Merlin G. Pope Scholarship and Awards

2006 U.S. Army Reserves Annual Merlin G. Pope, Jr. Award for the Recognition of a Non-commissioned Officer who exhibits Commitment to Equal Opportunity and Diversity

MSG Paula James was born in Russellville, KY.  In 1987, she graduated from Warren Central High School in Bowling Green, KY, and entered the U.S. Army in September of that year, completing basic military training at Fort Jackson, SC. In 1993, she graduated CUM LAUDE with an Applied Science – Business Resource Management degree from Troy State University, Troy, AL.  In 1995, she graduated as Honor Graduate from the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course and in 1998 graduated from the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course.  She is also a graduate of the Battle Focused Instructor Training Course, Small Group Instructor Training Course, Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) Course, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Training Course and the Department of Defense EEO Mediation Course.

MSG James served 6 ½ years on active duty and the remainder of her 18 year military career in the Army Reserve.  She has served one tour in Korea and in numerous stateside assignments from Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Benning, GA, Montgomery, AL, and Decatur, GA and is currently mobilized and serving as the Equal Opportunity Advisor for the 87th Training Support Division in Birmingham, AL.

Her military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon.  Her civilian decorations include the American Association of University Women Georgia Emerging Leader Award in 2004, Keep Columbus Beautiful Community Support Award in 2003 and Big Brother Big Sisters of Columbus, GA's 2000 Big Sister of the Year.

When she is not mobilized, she and her husband Michael reside in Columbus, GA where she is the Executive Director of Children's Tree House, the Child Advocacy Center for the Muskogee Judicial Circuit.  Michael is also serving in the Army Reserves and is unable to join us tonight to due enrollment in BNCOC.

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