Gerald Malloy said he entered the 2026 political fray due to concerns over far left-leaning policies. But it was a childhood experience at West Point that led to a lifetime of service. Malloy, a West Point graduate and retired Army officer who served 22 years on active duty, is trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Becca Balint, who first took office in 2023 in Vermont's At-Large Congressional District. The district is unique on a national level, as it's the lone congressional district representing the entire state of Vermont in the United States House of Representatives. Graduating as a cadet from West Point was preceded years earlier by a hockey tournament he played there when he was a young boy in either fifth or sixth grade. Malloy, who spoke with Military.com about his military career and political campaign, said he instantly fell in love with the place and wanted to attend. "So, I tried to do well in school," Malloy told Military.com. "I played a couple of sports—baseball and hockey—and was fortunate enough to get accepted to go to West Point. I did play a couple years of baseball and four years of hockey at West Point. Great experience."
Gerald Malloy (Gerald Malloy campaign)
While sports helped introduce him to West Point, growing up during the Vietnam War era made him want to join the U.S. Army and to be an officer. He accomplished that goal and then some, ultimately serving 22 years of active duty across multiple regions and continents: Europe, Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the Middle East. He supported the Third Armored Division, defending to fold the gap. His stint included a couple stops in Korea and "five great years" at Fort Bragg—where he was a charter member of a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) battalion and did a lot of training support assignments. "I really enjoyed my entire career," he said. "It's a great profession. Very proud of it, and I miss it sometimes now. I retired in 2006, but it was always great to be part of the Army team. That's really what it's about, working with great Americans that love our country."
