At 24, Mereena Alex has become something of a social media sensation, not for the usual reasons, but for how she is sharing her life as a young woman in the US Army.
Mereena is stationed in South Korea and works as a radiology technologist, but it is her Instagram feed that is catching the eyes and hearts of people, especially back home in Kerala.
Who is Mereena Alex?
What makes Mereena’s posts stand out is her choice to speak in Malayalam, her mother tongue, in a space where most military content is in English.
It is not just the drills and military routines that make her feed special, it is the way she brings them to life with snippets of her personality, often adding in moments of vulnerability and humour.
Her followers get glimpses of everything from pre-dawn marching drills to quiet, peaceful moments in the barracks. “I never thought speaking in Malayalam would make my videos go viral,” she tells OnManorama.
Her journey to this point was not always easy, and it was not always clear. Born and raised in Kollam, a coastal town in Kerala, Mereena’s family moved to Texas in 2017, a change that threw her into an entirely new world.
As a teenager, adjusting to new schools, a different culture, and a new way of life was overwhelming. But instead of letting it hold her back, it became the push she needed to find her own path.
“I never thought I’d join the military,” Mereena admits to OnManorama. “It was not part of my plan. But I wanted to challenge myself and do something meaningful, something bigger than myself.”
At first, the idea of joining the Army seemed far removed from her life. But after some thinking, she decided to enlist. She did not realise then just how demanding the training would be.
How does a day look like for Mereena Alex?
The physical toll of boot camp hit her hard, early morning marches, long hours of grueling drills, and exhaustion that seemed to have no end.
A stress fracture during training slowed her down, but it was a setback that only made her more determined. Just before her graduation, the pandemic arrived, making the final days of training even more brutal.
“I could barely breathe, but I refused to quit,” she recalls to OnManorama “I told myself there was no turning back.”
She made it through, and the day she donned her uniform was one of the proudest moments of her life. “That’s when I really understood what perseverance meant,” Mereena tells OnManorama.
Now stationed in South Korea, Mereena continues to serve as a radiology technologist. “There aren’t many Malayali women in the US Army, but when I get messages from other soldiers, it reminds me that we’re not alone,” she tells OnManorama
Her family, now settled in Texas, has been her pillar through everything. Though they were initially surprised by her decision to join the Army, their pride in her is unmistakable.
“My parents never imagined I’d end up here,” Mereena says, her voice softening. “But now, when they see me in uniform, it’s like they’re seeing their dreams come true. Their pride keeps me going,” she explains to OnManorama.
Looking ahead, Mereena hopes to specialise in MRI technology and explore new career opportunities in the future. She’s also thought about business ventures and travel.