Sergeant Major Sensing enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2004, completed recruit training in November 2004 and was promoted to Lance Corporal, meritoriously, as the Company Honor Graduate. She attended Marine Combat Training in Camp Geiger, NC in December 2004.
Sergeant Major Sensing attended MOS school in Pensacola, FL in January 2005, then went to follow on MOS training in Cherry Point, NC that April. In July 2005, Sergeant Major Sensing received orders to VMA-223 in Cherry Point, NC as an Aviation Engine Mechanic, MOS 6212, for AV8B Harrier. In August 2005, she deployed to Al Asad, Iraq and served as a member of the election duty for the first Iraqi elections. In February 2006, Sergeant Major Sensing was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After returning from deployment, Sergeant Major Sensing was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in February 2007. Later that year she was selected to played for the All-Marine basketball team and at the end of the season was named on the All Armed Forces Team. Shortly after, Sergeant Major Sensing received orders for Drill Instructor School 3-08.
Sergeant Major Sensing executed orders to Drill Instructor School in Parris Island, SC in April 2008 and graduated in July 2008 obtaining the MOS 0911. She checked into Oscar Company, 4th RTBN as a Drill Instructor. In March 2009, Sergeant Major Sensing attended the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor (MAI) Course course at Parris Island, SC and graduated as the Gung-Ho recipient for her class obtaining the MOS 0916. After three cycles, she served as an MAI on quota for ten months. Sergeant Major Sensing served as a Drill Instructor for 5 more cycles before being promoted to Staff Sergeant in March 2011. She served as a Senior Drill Instructor in November Company for one cycle and completed a successful tour of DI Duty in May 2011.