Brigadier-general Barabé was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery in June 1976.
His operational experience begins in June 1976, when he is posted to 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada at Valcartier, Québec. During his time with 5e Régiment, he accompanies the 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment to Cyprus. In June 1980, Brigadier-general Barabé is transferred to the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Lahr, Germany, where he fills various regimental appointments. In July 1985, he takes command of 119th Air Defence Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, located at Canadian Forces Base Chatham, New Brunswick. After a few years in staff positions, Brigadier-general Barabé returns to regimental duty in July 1990 when he takes command of 4th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in Lahr, Germany. On 7 July 2000, he is appointed Commander 5e Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada.
His appointments as a staff officer begin in July 1983 at Mobile Command Headquarters, where he serves in various positions including Staff Officer to the Chief of Staff Operations. In 1988, he is posted to 1st Canadian Division Headquarters, Kingston, Ontario, as the Executive Assistant to the Commander. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1989, he is appointed Senior Staff Officer Language Training at Canadian Forces Training System Headquarters in Trenton, Ontario. In July 1992, he is transferred to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, where he serves in various positions including Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff. Following his promotion to the rank of colonel, on 9 June 1995, he assumes the appointments of Director Land Force Development, Director Force Concepts and Director Defence Analysis. Brigadier-general Barabé is promoted to his present rank on 1st July 2002. He served at NDHQ as Director general Joint Force Development until 3rd June 2005 date where he was appointed commander of Land Forces Quebec Area as the General Commandant. On February 1st 2006 and in the spirit of transformational change of the Canadian Forces, he took command of Joint Task Force (East) under the command of Canada Command.
Brigadier-general Barabé is a graduate of the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff Course in Kingston (July 1983), the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto (1987-1988), the Advanced Military Studies Course (Fall 1999) and National Strategic Studies Course (June 2000). He holds a Bachelor degree in Political Sciences from the University of Ottawa.
