With 20 years of experience in the reserve forces and five kids at home, veteran Rachel McCarthy knows a thing or two about being a woman who is also a leader.

Now the P.E.I. resident has received a commendation for her work advocating for gender equality in the military.

"It was a wonderful surprise," said McCarthy, who lives in Kensington and serves as the operations chief and chair of the diversity and inclusion command advisory team at HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottetown.

McCarthy is one of …