Retired July 13, 2004
Deputy Commander , 82nd Brigade (Troop Command)
Brigadier General Dennis C. Merrill was the Deputy Commander, 82nd Brigade (Troop Command), Oregon Army National Guard. The subordinate units of the 82nd Brigade (TC) are as follows: 1249th Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Mech), 3rd Battalion, 116 Armor Brigade (M1A1), 1-82 Cavalry Squadron, 641 Medical Battalion (Evac), 741 Corps Support Battalion, and the 82 Rear Operations Center (Corps).
Brigadier General Merrill was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1974 as an Armor Officer. He has served in numerous command and staff positions. Brigadier General Merrill took a leave of absence from the police bureau and served a three-year Active/Guard Reserve (AGR) tour in the Oregon Army National Guard. His tour included time as the Battalion S-3 and Executive Officer for 1/162 Infantry Battalion. He later commanded 2/162 Infantry Battalion as a traditional soldier. Brigadier General Merrill commanded the 82nd Rear Tactical Operations Center from October 1995 to December 1997. During this time, the unit was mobilized for Operation Joint Guard and he was assigned as Commander of Task Force Pershing, Slavonski Brod, Croatia.
1974 Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science - Portland State University
1996 United States Army War College
1. Jun 74 - Aug 78 Platoon Leader, Troop E, 82nd Cavalry, 41st SIB
2. Aug 78 - Mar 79 TAC Officer, Oregon Military Academy, Schools Branch HHD
3. Mar 79 - Apr 80 Executive Officer, Troop E, 82nd Cavalry, 41st SIB
4. Apr 80 - Nov 83 Commander, Troop E, 82nd Cavalry, 41st SIB
5. Dec 83 - Jul 86 Assistant S-3, Headquarters 41st SIB
6. Jul 86 - Nov 88 Operations Officer (S-3), HQ1/162 Infantry Battalion (AGR)
7. Nov 88 - Aug 89 Executive Officer, HQ 1/162 Infantry Battalion (AGR)
8. Aug 89 - Oct 90 Logistics Officer (S-4), Headquarters 41st SIB
9. Oct 90 - Nov 92 Commander, 2/162 Infantry Battalion
10. Dec 92 - Jun 95 Executive Officer, Headquarters 41st SIB
11. Jul 95 - Oct 95 Logistics Officer, HQ STARC, ORARNG, attached to 41st SIB
12. Oct 95 - Dec 97 Commander, 82nd Rear Tactical Operations Center (RTOC)
13. Dec 96-Aug 97: mobilized for Operation Joint Guard: Assigned as Commander of Task Force Pershing, Slavonski Brod, Croatia
14. Jan 98 - Oct 98 Deputy Brigade Commander, 82nd Brigade (Troop Command)
15. Oct 98 - Jul 04 Deputy Commander, 82nd Brigade
Meritorious Service Medal (with four bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with one hour glass device and one M device)
NATO Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with numeral 3)
United States Marshall, District of Oregon
2LT ARNG 29 Jun 74
1LT ARNG 28 Jun 77
CPT ARNG 05 Sep 80
MAJ ARNG 16 Sep 86
LTC ARNG 12 Oct 90
COL ARNG 21 Jul 95
BG (Line) ARNG 19 Oct 98
(Current as of April 2007)
The date of publication
indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily
reflect the date of printing.