 Tarbuck akapedza kudzidza paUnited States Naval Academy muAnnapolis, Maryland, muna 1920 uye akapedza nguva yakawanda yebasa rake rokutanga ari pazvikepe zvinoparadza. Mukati merwendo rwebasa muCaribbean, akabatira pamhenderekedzo pamwe chete neUnited States yaigara muNicaragua. Gare gare, paNaval War College paNewport, Rhode Island, akanyora rondedzero yakanzi The Nicaraguan Policy yeUnited States, iyo yakazoburitswa neUnited States Naval Institute. 