Gilliland’s service led to Iraq

Leo Gilliland (CONTRIBUTED)

Veteran of the Week

MADISON – Leo Gilliland served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Reserves and now serves as Captain with the U.S. Army Reserves.

Gilliland entered the USMC Reserves and completed USMC basic training at Paris Island, S.C. in August 2000. He then went to Camp Geiger, N.C. to attend the USMC School of Infantry.

“I was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 with 3rd Battalion/23rd Marines attached to 1st Marine Division,” Gilliland said.

“I was enlisted for six years and was discharged from the USMC at the rank of Sargent,” he said. Then in 2010, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and completed Army Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Ga. and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant that same year.

In 2011, Gilliland attended the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Currently, Gilliland serves at the rank of Captain as a member of the Army Reserve Sustainment Command, AMC-ARE.

At Troy University, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He moved to Madison in 2012. Gilliland is vice-president and commercial banking officer for National Bank of Commerce.

His wife Dr. Cara Gilliland is an optometrist. Their daughter Lila Caroline is 1.5 years old.

He serves as an executive board member for the Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the United States Army and on the Childcare Development Board of Managers for Heart of the Valley YMCA. He is a member of Rotary Club of Madison.

In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf.