Gabrielle Varhola

Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gabrielle “Gabby” Varhola (ret.) was inspired to join the Navy because her childhood friend’s mother was a Sailor. When she enlisted, she knew she wanted to be a hospital corpsman. A year into service, she injured both hips from running, leading to serious repetitive use injuries. In the midst of her recovery, she survived two sexual assaults. She received the help she needed and has become an advocate for those who have had similar experiences to her own. She was one of the survivors spotlighted in the Navy’s Sexual Assault Prevention Response (SAPR) training.

(LINK: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/872361/navy-sapr-gmt-video-supplements)

Varhola lives in Virginia Beach, Va., with her husband and two dogs, their pet, Whiskey, and her service animal, Ruby. A recent addition to the Varhola home, Ruby has given her a sense of freedom she hasn’t had in years. In her free time, Varhola loves to work out and bake. She plans to start school in 2025 to study pediatrics or pediatric surgery.

Varhola is a returning athlete, having competed in the 2023 Warrior Games Challenge. In 2024, she will compete in archery, field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, and track.