Gail Reals entered the Marine Corps in 1954 and served as a stenographer at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico until she was transferred in 1955 to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., where she served three years as a secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff. In January 1961 she served as private secretary to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, and was subsequently commissioned in 1961 via the Woman Officer Candidate Class. She retired as a United States Marine Corps Brigadier General.