First Sergeant Montano is a native of San Pablo, California. She enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 13 November 2007 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, she was sent to Marine Corps Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Once graduated, Private First Class Montano checked into Personnel Administration School at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. At Personnel Administration School she obtained the military occupational specialty of 0151, Administrative Clerk.
Following school, Private First Class Montano received orders to Weapons Field Training Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California. From May 2008 to July 2010 she served with S-1, Headquarters Company as an Administrative Clerk.
In July 2010, Lance Corporal Montano checked in to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, California. While at Combat Logistics Regiment 17 she served as a Legal Clerk. On 2 September 2010, Lance Corporal Montano was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal. Corporal Montano received orders to Combat Logistics Battalion 15, where she served as the Administrative Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge from March 2011 to September 2013.
In August 2012, Corporal Montano was promoted to Sergeant. Shortly after being promoted, Sergeant Montano deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of Western Pacific Unit Deployment Program 12-2. Upon return from deployment in September 2013, she executed orders to Headquarters Regiment, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, California. While at Headquarters Regiment, Sergeant Montano served as the Legal Chief.
In July 2014, Sergeant Montano checked into G-1, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California where she executed her duties as the Manpower and Operations Chief until January 2016.
In January 2016, Sergeant Montano was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Staff Sergeant Montano checked into Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California in February 2016 where she was assigned as the Center Personnel Staff Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge.
Transitioning from Twentynine Palms, California, Staff Sergeant Montano checked into Combat Instructor School, School of Infantry-East, Camp Geiger, North Carolina in March 2018 and graduated in June 2018 with the military occupational specialty of 0913.
In July 2018, she checked into Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Camp Pendleton, California. While at Marine Combat Training Battalion, Staff Sergeant Montano served with Company K as a Combat Instructor and Platoon Sergeant. In October 2019, Staff Sergeant Montano served with Headquarters and Instructor Company as the Weapons Chief for the Instructor Group. Staff Sergeant Montano was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in January 2020. Later that year, Gunnery Sergeant Montano checked into Company I. While serving at Company I, she served in the billets of Company Gunnery Sergeant and Company First
Sergeant.
In February 2022, Gunnery Sergeant Montano checked into Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan, where she served as the Squadron Administrative Chief.
Gunnery Sergeant Montano was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant in February 2024 and checked into Marine Air Control Squadron 4, where she served as the Headquarters and Service Company Unit Senior Enlister Leader.
In June 2024, First Sergeant Montano checked into Personnel Support Detachment 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, where she served as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader.
First Sergeant Montano reported to 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, in January 2025, where she is currently serving as the Unit Senior Enlisted Leader.
Her personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award.