Sgt. 1st Class Kulani J. Lakanaria was born in Kaneohe, Hawaii and graduated from James B. Castle High School in 2005. Lakanaria enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2004 and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Lakanaria's Assignments include rifleman, Delta Company 2nd Battalion, 99th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Combat Team, Wheeler Airfield, Hawaii; then he volunteered for active duty in February 2006 and served as a rifleman, M249 gunner, fire team leader, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat team, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Squad Leader, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Public Affairs NCO, 24th Press Camp Headquarters, Fort Bliss, Texas; Public Affairs NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Public Affairs Mass Communication NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Sinai, Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt; Detachment NCOIC, 49th Public Affairs Detachment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and his current position Public Affairs NCOIC with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.
Lakanaria's Military and civilian education includes: Combat Lifesaver Course, Journalist Course, Equal Opportunity Leader Course, Airborne School, Joint Special Operations Public Affairs Course, Electronic Journalism Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course, Basic Leader Course, Advance Leader Course, Senior Leader Course. Lakanaria has earned an associate degree from University of Maryland Global Campus and is continuing his education to obtain a degree in Mass Communications.
Army Awards and Decorations:
Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Drivers Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), Army Commendation Medal (8), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (7), Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation(2), Army Good Conduct Medal 5th Award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal 2 Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal 3 Campaign Stars, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon(5), NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal, Multinational Force and Observers Medal (2).