After graduating from high school, Sergeant Major Fode enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 10 April 1988 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, Private First Class Fode reported to the Basic Engineer Equipment Mechanics Course at Courthouse Bay, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Upon completion of her MOS school, Private First Class Fode reported for duty at 9th Engineer Support Battalion (9th ESB), 3rd Force Service Support Group (3rd FSSG), Okinawa, Japan in October 1988. There she served as an engineer equipment mechanic and participated in Team Spirit ‘89.
In November 1989, Lance Corporal Fode transferred to Marine Air Control Squadron 23, Aurora, Colorado where she served as an engineer equipment mechanic. In June 1990, she was promoted to the rank of Corporal and attended the Journeyman Engineer Equipment Mechanics Course at Courthouse Bay, Camp Lejeune. Upon completion of Journeyman School she received orders back to 9th ESB where she deployed to the Philippines with Combat Service Support Detachment-35. While in the Philippines, she attended Jungle Environmental Survival Training (JEST). Corporal Fode then requested orders for Drill Instructor (DI) duty.
In January 1992, Corporal Fode attended DI Class 2-92, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina and graduated on 19 March 1992. Upon completion of DI School, she attended Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS) training and was then assigned to 4th Recruit Training Battalion where she served as a drill instructor. In December 1992, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Fode’s accomplishments include shooting on the Parris Island Rifle and Pistol Team from December 1992 to April 1993.
In April 1994, after successfully completing her tour as a DI, she received orders to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st FSSG, Camp Pendleton, CA where she was assigned as the platoon sergeant of Maintenance Platoon, Support Company. While with support company, she participated in a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) exercise in Yuma, Arizona.
In October 1995, Sergeant Fode made a lateral move to the legal specialist field and executed orders to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st FSSG where she was assigned to the Legal Services Support Section (LSSS). She was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in March 1997.
In March 1998, Staff Sergeant Fode returned to Parris Island for her second tour as a DI. She served in the billets of Senior Drill Instructor, Series Gunnery Sergeant and 4thBn Drillmaster. In July 1999, she was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
In May 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Fode received orders to the Legal Services Center, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH). There she served as the Administrative Law Chief and Legal Chief. Gunnery Sergeant Fode participated in the Pacific Division Matches winning one gold medal with the M16A2 Service Rifle and one bronze medal with the M9 Service Pistol. She was then selected to shoot on the Marine Corps rifle team from April to August 2002. During that time, she won one more gold medal and one silver medal with the service rifle. In April 2003, she won her last gold medal accumulating enough points to earn the Distinguished Marksman Badge.
After being selected for promotion, she was frocked to First Sergeant in April 2003 and reported for duty with Engineer Company, Combat Service Support Group 3, 3rd FSSG, MCBH. While with Engineer Company, she participated in RIMPAC ’04 and one PTA training exercise in support of 3d Marine Regiment.
In December 2004, First Sergeant Fode received orders and transferred to 1st Supply Battalion, Combat Service Support Group 15, 1st FSSG, Camp Pendleton. There, she deployed to Iraq in support of OIF 05-07.1 from February to August 2006. Upon return from Iraq, she was assigned as the 1st Maintenance Battalion Sergeant Major until January 2007. After her selection for promotion to Sergeant Major, she was frocked and reported for duty as the 1st Supply Battalion Sergeant Major until December 2007.
In December 2007, Sergeant Major Fode executed orders for duty with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and deployed to Okinawa for a six month UDP. While on UDP, her Squadron participated in exercise Freedom Banner/Foal Eagle ‘08 in the Republic of Korea. In November 2008, Sergeant Major Fode executed PCA orders to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, MAG-24, for duty until June 2010. From June to August 2010, she was assigned as the MAG-24 Sergeant Major. Sergeant Major Fode then executed orders to Marine Corps Base, Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa Japan where she served as the Headquarters and Service Battalion and Camps Foster and Lester Sergeant Major until July 2012.
Her personal decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star.
She is married to Sergeant Major Rick Fode. Together they have two sons.