Paulina Alvarez graduated in 2000 from TMI, where she was battalion personnel officer, president of the Honor Council and the first female graduate to attend West Point.“Paulina always put other cadets’ needs in front of her own,” says SGM Turner McGarity, then deputy commandant of the Corps of Cadets. “An outstanding cadet, she was always willing to go that extra mile to get things done right.” After graduating from West Point in 2004, Paulina completed aviation training, then served as an attack reconnaissance platoon leader and battalion adjutant.

After her promotion to captain, she was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where she served as Assistant Operations Officer for 1st Battalion Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. In May 2009, Paulina deployed to Afghanistan, where she commanded a company. Since her return last April, she has been serving as an AH-64D Apache Longbow maintenance company commander at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Her military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal and Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf cluster. Looking back on her TMI experience, Paulina says, “The Honor Code and the four pillars of TMI created a foundation for me to live by. Faith, knowledge, fitness, selfless service and integrity are the best tools I have to guide me in making decisions.” Outside of her Army service, Paulina is active in volunteering with her church, Habitat for Humanity, Adopt a Highway and beautification of parks in honor of fallen soldiers. “Her service to our school community and to our nation makes Paulina an exemplar of servant leadership,” says TMI English teacher Bob Bell, faculty sponsor to the Honor Council.