•  

    SFC THOMAS MERRILL

    Army Instructor
    Cesar Chavez High School
    Laveen, AZ



    I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June of 1988 as an Amphibious Assault Crewman, attending basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. In April of 1994 I entered service with theUnited States Army as a Cavalry Scout. My deployments consist of Desert Shield/Storm in 1991 and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2008 to 2009 with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII.
     
    I have held various positions throughout my career including vehicle crew chief, A Co, 2nd AAV Battalion, USMC; CavalryScout, B Troop, 3rd Squadron 7th Cavalry; Chemical Specialist, 135th Chemical Company; Recruiting and Retention NCO; Squad Leader, 1stBattalion, 131st Infantry Regiment; and most recently, I served as a Platoon Sergeant and Operations Sergeant with A Co Engineers, 33rdBrigade Special Troops Battalion until my retirement on 1 September 2014.
     
    My military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal: Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Southwest Asia Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with "M" device); NCO Professional Development Ribbon; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon;  Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon;  NATO Medal (ISAF); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Navy Unit Commendation; and the Army Superior Unit Award.
     
    I have been married to Autumn for twelve years now and have two wonderful sons, Devon and Brennan.  I am extremely excited to work with the young Cadets as an Army Instructor here at Cesar Chavez High School.