A retirement ceremony honoring U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Dennis L. Merrion, Jr. was held Wednesday, June 30, at 9 a.m. at Patriot Square in Downtown Swainsboro. Special speaker Captain Tandrea S. Beasley-Garnett, United States Army retired, gave remarks on Technical Sgt. Merrion’s military career, and helicopters from the Savannah area performed a fly over in honor of Sgt. Merrion after the ceremony.
Technical Sgt. Merrion Jr. is currently assigned as section chief of the 9th air support operations squadron in Fort Hood, Texas. As section chief, he oversaw 36 airmen in six different career fields, ensuring squadron combat mission readiness, proficiency and professional development progression. The 9th Air Support Operations Squadron is a combat support unit that provides tactical command and control of air power assets to the joint forces air component commander and joint forces land component commander for combat operations.
Technical Sgt. Merrion is from Swainsboro and entered the Air Force in June 2000. His initial career field was information manager, where he served in various positions throughout two duty locations. In June 2008, Technical Sgt. Merrion retrained into the tactical air control party career field. His deployment history includes Operation Atlantic Resolve, Operation Freedom Sentinel and four Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Dennis’s accomplishments have been absolutely amazing. When you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything as long as you keep God first,” says Technical Sgt. Merrion’s father, Dennis Merrion, Sr.
Specialized Training
In 2008, Technical Sgt. Merrion completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and information management technician school at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. He later completed airman leadership school at Yokota Air Base in Japan in 2004. In 2008, he completed a tactical air command and control apprentice course at Hurlburt Field, Florida, SV-80-A combat survival training course at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington, and U.S. Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning in Georgia. Technical Sgt. Merrion completed his U.S. Army combat lifesaver course at Georgia’s Ft. Stewart base as well as Air Assault School in Ft. Campbell in Kentucky in 2009. He later became a certified scuba diver after completing specialized training in Richmond Hill in 2010. Technical Sgt. Merrion continued his training by completing a joint terminal attack qualification course at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in 2011 and a tactical air command control craftsman course from Hulburt Field Air Force Base in Florida in 2012. In 2014, he completed specialized training in dynamics of international terrorism at Florida’s Hulburt Field AFB. Technical Sgt. Merrion also completed training at Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in McGhee Tyson, Tennessee in 2014. He later completed his senior enlisted joint professional military education (DL) training in 2015. In 2018, Technical Sgt. Merrion completed an air support operation center course at Nellis AFB in Nevada, and, in 2019, finished his air support operation center joint air request net instructor training at Pope Field in North Carolina.
Education Background
Technical Sgt. Merrion holds a vast military education background. He obtained his Associate of Art (AA) degree in information management from the Community College of the Air Force in 2009, and, later, in 2010, obtained another Associate of Art (AA) degree in information system technology from the same college. In 2013, Technical Sgt. Merrion graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in multidisciplinary studies from Grantham University, making the college’s Dean’s List and honor roll status. Technical Sgt. Merrion continued his education at Ashford University and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in psychology. In 2019, he received a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in criminal justice from National University, and in 2020, he graduated from Ashworth College again with a private investigator diploma. Just this year, in 2021, Technical Sgt. Merrion received an environmental protection certification and obtained an air conditioning technician assistant certification and air conditioning electrical technician certification from Central Georgia Technical College.
Assignments
Technical Sgt. Merrion’s received his first assignment in November 2020 with the 730th Air Mobility Squadron in Yokota Air Base in Japan. He remained on this assignment until August 2005, serving the capacities of information manager, unit control shift leader and equipment custodian. From August 2005 until June 2008, he was assisnted to the 316th Mission Support Squadronat Andrews AFB in Maryland where he served as information manager, security manager, NCOIC and supervisor. From June 2008 until September 2018, Technical Sgt. Merrion served on the tactical air control party as supervisor, equipment custodian, trainer, NCOIC, battalion air liaison officer, joint terminal attack controller, joint terminal attack controller foreign national mentor and security manager for 15th Air Support Operations Squadron at Ft. Stewart. From September 2018 until November 2019, he was assigned to Fort Stewart’s 15th Air Support Operations Squadron. Technical Sgt. Merrion currently serves as section chief of the 9th Air Support Operations Squadron in Fort Hood, Texas since his assignment in December 2019.
Effective Dates of Promotions
Sgt. Merrion’s first promotion as airman basic occurred in June 2000. He was later promoted to airman first class in September of that year. His third promotion came two years later when he was promoted to senior airman in October 2002. Sgt. Merrion was later promoted to staff sergeant in September 2007. His final promotion occurred in September 2014 when he received his fifth promotion and current title of technical sergeant.
Major awards and decorations
Major awards and decorations received by Sgt. Merrion during his military career include the Bronze Star, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster and one remote “R” device, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon – Short Tour, Air Force Overseas Ribbon – Long Tour, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal.
Technical Sgt. Merion, thank you for your service!!!
