Capt. Peyton Habraken praises the Canadian Armed Forces for providing her with the tools to #GivetoGain so she can put family first in her life. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media

#GivetoGain – Giving Military service gives the goals of family first for Capt. Peyton Habraken

Raised in a supportive family with two CAF parents as well as military aunts and uncles, Captain Peyton Habraken learned from an early age what the true meaning of #GivetoGain is by watching and learning at home.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 resonates with the logistics officer who just returned from a six-month overseas deployment with OPERATION Reassurance in June 2025, and an even more recent move to CFB Shilo in August.

She spoke frankly to Shilo Stag News about her #GivetoGain goals, desire to start a family and balance her military career.

“A lot of people wait too long in life to realize what is important,” Capt. Habraken said, adding she has a work-to-live thought process, and not a live-to-work ideal.

Joining the military before she even graduated high school, Peyton left for basic training six days after graduation in 2019, knowing that having her own family is her endgame.

“My whole goal in life, since I was a little girl, has been to be a mom. I want to have a family. I cannot wait for that to happen. It’s all I ever wanted, and the military gives me a stable career with a pension, benefits and maternity leave, which is very rare for my generation of people to have such a stable career at a young age,” said the 25-year-old.

The self-described “yapper” admits she has been “cautioned” about being so outspoken and about wanting a family and children. However, she said her own mom retired as a corporal, making sacrifices to stay home for her children so there would be a constant presence. She said a strong example of giving to gain is her mom, who gave up deployments and courses so she could be at home with her girls.

“I don’t have children yet … but I think my whole #GivetoGain is I am willing to give up potential job advancement or opportunity if it’s the best case scenario for my family because that’s where my priorities lie.”

Currently an administrative officer at CFB Shilo or the Adjutant, she praises the military for taking family situations into account and not posting members where they do not want to go.

“I did not move around a lot growing up. My parents were both purple trades, my dad military police, and my mom was a supply tech. We were able to stay [in places] longer.”

Habraken said she saw friends who moved frequently throughout childhood and that their parents were career-focused, which affected family relationships.

“That’s the last thing I want,” she said. “There are definite ways to circumvent that. It’s all about give and take. My biggest thing is, it’s always going to be family first.”

Coming from a large, close-knit family, she had grandparents who lived with them and instilled the values of family and giving to gain.

“My mom was put on this earth to be a mom. She has never once cared about herself a single day in this world. All she cares about is me, my sister and those around her. Taking care of people is her purpose, and I feel like that. I aim to be as good a mom as she is.”

“That subconsciously transforms into why I am serving in the Canadian Armed Forces – to provide, to serve my country, and to serve other people. I don’t think there is a better job.”

The army captain praises all the benefits the military provides to families and has recognized them since she was young. She and husband Josh, who is also a logistics member of the CAF, have just bought their first home, and she said she is constantly learning at work.

“I think there are so many benefits to that. I think it’s great that the CAF instills that you are never done learning. You are always pushing yourself to be better, which is great. I have done different jobs, and I am more knowledgeable than I would have been if I had stayed in one spot … The CAF [encourages] you out of your comfort zone to try new things.”

Peyton said that while she has had no negative experiences in the CAF, she sees women do give to gain, and perhaps that is the point of it.

”We have to work harder, try more to fit into the male standards.”

She is thankful she works with a lot of “amazing women,” naming specifically Major Melissa Marshall, the Chief of Staff.

“[Maj. Marshall] is an amazing role model for me. She’s just so professional, competent and approachable, especially dealing with difficult subjects … I have learned alot from her in my short time here.”

There are other strong and fantastic women colleagues, civilian and ex-military, who have given their experiences and knowledge so she can gain.

“I feel like I have a good connection with women who have served in the military at the same time as my mom and my aunt. I know they went through a lot of hardships being women in the military in the 90s and 2000s. I gratefully didn’t have to deal with that.”

Capt. Habraken said as a woman in the CAF, some sacrifices have to be made, but the benefits outweigh the negatives in life and in womanhood – it’s all part of #GivetoGain.

“As long as you show up, work hard for what you know you want, there is nothing stopping you from achieving a balance of the female essence and a military career trajectory.”

CFB Shilo’s Capt. Peyton Habraken enjoys this year’s International Women’s Day theme of #GivetoGain and said it’s family first all the way, with her own mom as the embodiment of the theme from how much she has given to her family. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)