U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant Emily Perez a.k.a. “Kobe” was the first black woman at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to reach the rank of Corps Commander Sergeant Major. She was nicknamed “Kobe” because she “always made the shots” according to family and friends. A 2005 graduate, Perez was fluent in German and a straight “A” student. Perez also served as a star on the Army’s 400-meter relay team. Her first assignment after graduation was convoy leader as a Medical Service Corps Operator in Iraq. She was assigned to the 204th Support Battalion of the first Infantry Division.
Born in Heidelberg, Germany, Perez was no stranger to the military. She carried aspirations of attending the academy after high school. She opted to use her free time to volunteer at the American Red Cross in Alexandria, VA then with her local church to educate people in the community about HIV/AIDS when family members were diagnosed.
Read more about Emily at Black America Web
