Sergeant Major Merritt was born 29 July 1985 in Helena, Arkansas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 06 September 2002 and attended recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot Parris Island on 26 June 2003. Private Merritt then received orders to the School of Infantry (SOI), Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), at Camp Geiger North Carolina. Graduating as an 0341 in January 2004, Private Merritt received orders to 1st Battalion 2d Marines located in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Private Merritt served as an ammo man in Weapons Company, 81s Platoon from January to June 2004. Private First Class Merritt then deployed in July 2004, 24th MEU, to Iskanderia Iraq and returned in February 2005, where he served as 81mm Gunner, 240 Gunner, Driver, and Rifleman. Lance Corporal Merritt deployed in November 2005 to April 2006 for a second time to Hit Iraq, 22nd MEU SOC, where he served as 81mm Squad leader, Rifle Squad leader, Convoy commander, and liaison between the Iraq army and the Marines. Corporal Merritt then reenlisted and deployed for a third time to Al Anbar Iraq from March 2007 to September 2007, where he served as 81mm Squad Leader, Rifle Squad Leader, Section Leader, and Convoy Commander.
Sergeant Merritt then received orders to 3rd Battalion 3d Marines, Weapons Company, 81mm Mortar Platoon, in Kaneohe bay, Hawaii, where he served as a Section Leader from March 2011 to November 2011. In November 2011, Sergeant Merritt deployed for a fourth time to Garmsir, Afghanistan and was reassigned as a Rifle Squad Leader till May 2012. Upon returning from that deployment, he was assigned as the Fire Direction Chief for the pre-deployment work-up prior to the UDP to Japan. In June 2013, Sergeant Merritt deployed to Okinawa, Japan and served in the additional billets of Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant. After returning from his fifth deployment in December 2013, Staff Sergeant Merritt was holding the billet of Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander for the 81mm Mortar Platoon, until his next Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders.
In February 2014, Staff Sergeant Merritt received orders to I MEF EOTG, Camp Pendleton, CA. Due to manpower shortfalls in his unit, he held the billet of OIC and SNCOIC of the Ropes Section. His section was responsible for teaching the Assault Climbers, Urban Assault Climbers, Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques Masters, and Fast Rope Masters courses until February 2017. He then received orders to Staff Non-commissioned Officers Academy aboard Camp Pendleton, CA as a Sergeant School Faculty Advisor.
In November 2011, Sergeant Merritt deployed for a fourth deployment to Garmsir, Afghanistan and served as a Rifle Squad Leader till May 2012. In July 2012, Sergeant Merritt was assigned as the Fire Direction Chief for the pre-deployment work-up prior to the UDP to Japan. In June 2013, Sergeant Merritt deployed to Okinawa, Japan. After returning from his fifth deployment in December 2013, Staff Sergeant Merritt was holding the billet of Platoon Sergeant, and Platoon Commander and for the 81mm Mortar Platoon.
In February 2014, Staff Sergeant Merritt received orders to I MEF EOTG, Camp Pendleton, CA. He held the billet of OIC and SNCOIC of Assault Climbers and Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques Masters courses until February 2017. He then received orders to Staff Non-commissioned Officers Academy aboard Camp Pendleton, CA as a Sergeant School Faculty Advisor.
In February 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Merritt was appointed as the SNCOIC of Sergeants School and became a Master Faculty Advisor (MFA). As the SNCOIC, he was not only challenged to implement a new POI for the School, but also was selected to teach and mentor at the Faculty Advisor's Course, creating 15 new Faculty Advisors for all Academies. In April 2019, Gunnery Sergeant Merritt was then appointed as the SNCOIC of Advanced School till executing orders in February 2020 to 3d Battalion 4th Marines.
Gunnery Sergeant Merritt served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 4th Marines and deployed a sixth time to the South West Border (SWB) mission in February 2020. Upon returning and another pre-deployment work up, he deployed for a seventh time on the 31st MEU as a Boat Company to Okinawa, Japan in November 2020. Upon returning in May 2021 Gunnery Sergeant Merritt was promoted to First Sergeant and checked into 3d Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion.
As the Company First Sergeant for Company A, he deployed an eighth time on the 31st MEU with BLT 2/5 to Okinawa, Japan in May 2022. Upon returning in November 2022, he received orders to 8th Engineer Support Battalion and checked in February 2023
While serving as the Engineer Support Company First Sergeant, he was selected to join CLB-6 as the H&S Company First Sergeant and deploy to Norway,(MRF-E) for a ninth deployment. Upon returning in May 2024, First Sergeant Merritt was promoted to Sergeant Major and checked into SOI-E, and assumed the billet as the H&S Battalion Sergeant Major for 18 months. In October 2025 Sergeant Major Merritt received orders back to 1st Battalion 2d Marines as the Battalion Sergeant Major, where he currently serves.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 3 Gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 3 Gold stars, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He holds an Associates and Bachelors in Business Administration and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree (MBA). Additionally, he has been teaching as a Military Leadership Adjunct Professor for Palomar College since November 2022.