When Alina was 14, she immigrated to Israel with her twin sister from a small town near Siberia, with the dream of one day defending the country she loved. Today, she is a second lieutenant in the IDF and the commander of an Arrow launch battery, part of the Israeli Air Force's air defense system.
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On Independence Day, she received a commendation of excellence from President Reuven Rivlin for her dedicated service in the unit, which is challenging as it faces many threats in protecting Israelis.
In an interview with Israel Hayom, Alina said she always knew she wanted to be an Israeli soldier.
"I was very excited when they informed me [of the commendation.] I am proud of myself and my path, but mostly I am happy that this work gives me so much meaning," she said.
A year after Alina made aliyah, her father passed away in Russia. "We found out that dad passed away from our mom's relatives. The news was difficult, even though we hadn't been in touch for a while," she said, adding that being far away from family is a challenge.
"My mom doesn't live in Israel, and from the age of 14 my sister and I were alone, and that made me much more mature, and it had an impact on me as a commander.
"Lots of teenagers do not enlist and look for ways to evade their service, but the IDF helped me integrate into society and made me feel like I was a part of it," Alina said.
"If a recruit asked me if she should become a soldier, I would definitely tell her yes. Being a soldier gives you self-confidence, proves to you that you are capable."
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