Detrel Howell enlisted in the United States Army in January 1987. She served through January 1995 and was honorably discharged at the rank of E-4/Specialist. She was attached to the 800th Military Police Brigade Unit out of Uniondale, NY when she deployed to Saudi Arabia on December 24, 1990, and remained until July 1991. The physical and emotional challenges that she endured as a combat veteran resulted in her mission to do more for female veterans. In 2019, while working toward completing the requirements of a Master of Divinity degree, Detrel was filled with overwhelming passion and commitment to establish United In Sisterhood, an organization solely dedicated to meeting the needs of female veterans. Detrel’s mission for the organization is to bring supportive services to this often-overlooked population through inspiration, encouragement, building lasting bonds, and also providing linkages to viable empowering resources.

​

Detrel is an active member of the National Association of Black Military Women, and was honored in 2018 as the Veteran of the Game by the NY Mets during a televised presentation of the American flag by the organization’s star pitcher.