Hannah Alderete ’20
CMC Veteran Recognition Program
Hannah Alderete '20 joined CMC's ROTC program with no prior military knowledge or experience. While her grandfather was in the navy, she was unfamiliar with military terms, procedures, acronyms, ranks or protocols. Her mother was a high school college counselor and suggested she investigate the ROTC program. She researched the opportunity, applied to CMC, and received a four-year ROTC scholarship. As a soccer and tennis player in high school she was used to challenges. When she saw one, she went for it. Following her sister to CMC, Haley Alderete ‘16, Hannah became the only ROTC cadet from CMC in her year. She overcame the stigma of females in ROTC and the Army and surpassed her male counterparts in test after test. Tackling tough challenges has been something Hannah has done in every position she has held. It is the hallmark of this remarkable CMC veteran.
Hannah's ROTC class had only 8 students from CMC. She enjoyed the challenge of ROTC devoting Fridays to training and field training exercises (FTX). Initially, Hannah admits, she was intimidated by the program. She was fiercely competitive though and determined to prove that a woman was capable of succeeding in this male-dominated program. It helped that Hannah has always been in great physical condition. Her fitness often gave her the edge needed to perform exceptionally well in the demanding physical and strengths tests imposed during Army training exercises.
Hannah was able to apply and take advantage of several military internship programs. Freshman year saw her in the Culture Understanding and Leadership Program (CULP) located in Burkina Faso, Africa. In her sophomore year, she applied and was accepted in “Project Go” and traveled to Tanzania, Africa where she learned Swahili in order to take the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). And in her junior year, after summer camp training had ended, she was accepted at the National Security Agency in Baltimore, MD, as a Risk Management Intern.
During the summer of her junior year, she was sent to the ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, KY. Hannah’s Platoon spent 42 days in the field emulating the basic training that all enlisted soldiers go through. It rained for all 42 days, but Hannah pushed through the training and overcame the hardships. Refusing to accept failure as an option, she excelled on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and ended the summer program with a superior score. Hannah reflects "it was very hard mentally and physically, but I decided to challenge myself and endured the harsh conditions of the Kentucky summer.” During the night navigation exercise, she fell into a deep ditch and had to blow her whistle signaling that she had been "theoretically killed." She was rescued and disappointed at failing the course. Given another chance she passed in record time and finished summer camp with an almost perfect rating proving she had what it took to be a successful Army officer.
Summer camp ended giving her a great sense of pride of accomplishment as well as satisfaction that comes from adaptation to harsh conditions and bonding with others in her squad. She repeatedly volunteered to carry the heavy M249 Machine Gun to show she was a team player. The summer experience enhanced her leadership capabilities and the importance of taking care of others.
When commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) at the end of her senior year, Hannah won the "Military Science Award for the Outstanding Cadet of the Year." She was presented with a Saber, now a prize possession hanging on the wall in her Disney office. Because of her DMG rating, Hannah was awarded her first choice of branch and chose the Adjutant General Corps (the branch of the Army responsible for a wide range of finance, administrative, and human resource services.) She went on active duty immediately, feeling the call to serve and wanting full immersion into military life and leadership training. Her first stop was Ft. Jackson, SC, where she underwent the Army’s Basic Officers Leadership Course (BOLC) including three weeks of intense field exercises. From there it was on to Ft. Bragg, NC home of the famed 82d Airborne Division.
As another demonstration of her commitment to tackling new challenges, Hannah applied herself and began to practice her new HR skills. She was assigned to the 525 Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (525 E-MIB) and started as the Strength Manager and Executive Assistant to the Brigade Commander. She learned about talent marketplace cycles, officer interviews, and manpower management.
Asked if she had any interesting experiences from her first year with the 82d, Hannah offered the following anecdote: One of her initial responsibilities was to drive the Brigade Commander, a colonel, in a Humvee around to his field appointments. On the first time out, she ran over the concrete wheel stop causing the vehicle to become impaled. After surveying the situation and recognizing Hannah’s mistake, the colonel commented, "let's just keep this between us, shall we?" Despite this ominous beginning, Hannah was promoted to 1st Lieutenant after a year and moved to the battalion level where she performed duties as the S1 (personnel officer), occupying a Captain’s slot.
Two events characterize this twenty-one-year-old's five years with the 525 E-MIB. During Operation NEO (Noncombatant Evacuation Operation) in 2021, she worked tirelessly preparing her unit for deployment to Afghanistan. These troops would be the vanguard helping to arrange for the evacuation of American Forces from the country. Hannah's role was to make sure that each soldier's package was complete, and all supplies and equipment issued properly.
Her second experience was training for the bi-annual Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) She was the highest scoring female achieving 595 out of a possible 600. It was important for her to perform at the highest level so that other soldiers, especially females, would look up to her. She became a Master Fitness Trainer (MFT) and helped to train those who had difficulty in passing the ordeal. She liked the challenge, the mental toughness, discipline, and the strict routine, and enjoyed helping those who struggled to pass.
Before leaving the Army, Hannah’s unit deployed to Poznan, Poland for 9 months. Her unit provided military intelligence support to US bases in the country. This experience gave her an appreciation for the freedoms Americans enjoy and allowed her to enjoy the camaraderie that develops in a close-knit military unit facing harsh conditions. She also had a chance to travel and expand her horizons including trips to Croatia, Budapest, Krakow, Ireland, and Norway.
Returning to the States, she began her military out-processing having achieved the rank of Captain. She was able to take advantage of a 6-month internship program at the Pentagon in June 2024 called the Career Skills Program (CSP). She worked as an analyst evaluating combat force readiness at the division level for all Army divisions throughout the US. She witnessed how manpower decisions were made at the top and enjoyed the expansion of her military experience.
Finally, after leaving the service, she landed a competitive position with Walt Disney Imagineering. Returning home to California, she works as a Human Resource Project Manager. The past six months have allowed her to apply many of the skills and experiences she learned in the Army as she works on the corporation's future plans for expansion into new frontiers, such as the new Disney Park in Abu Dhabi. Hannah coordinates, plans, and analyzes the human resource requirements for the studios within Imagineering: Architecture & Design, Creative, Engineering, Delivery, and Project Management. "It's a big learning curve," commented Hannah, "but I enjoy the challenge of seeing how the hierarchy works and applying the skills I bring with me. I am also thrilled with the products we deliver to the public and the joy they bring to them."
Asked about Life Lessons Learned she applies from her military service to her present work with Walt Disney Imagineering, Hannah volunteered the following four competencies:
1. Leadership. Learning that good leadership is about accepting responsibility and caring and respect for people from many backgrounds.
2. Listening. Knowing how important it is to be a good listener BEFORE you voice your thoughts and opinions.
3. Respect. It's something that you have to earn. It doesn't come with the rank on your chest or position title.
4. Competence. Wanting to be the best you can be and responding to every challenge to succeed.