About Us

Biography

First Lieutenant Merino is a native of Orland Park, Illinois. She attended Quincy University in the fall of 2016 and completed the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Course-Combined program in August of 2019. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science-Human Performance in May of 2020, she immediately accepted her commission as a Marine Corps Officer.

In April of 2021, Second Lieutenant Merino completed The Basic School and was selected as a 7204 - Low Altitude Air Defense Officer. In August of 2021, she checked into 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (2d LAAD), Marine Air Control Group 28 aboard MCAS Cherry Point, NC for on-the-job training (OJT) prior to completing the Low Altitude Air Defense Basic Officer Course in March of 2022 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.

After returning from the schoolhouse, First Lieutenant Merino was assigned to Alpha Battery as a Platoon Commander. She participated in Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI 1-23) as a field training unit in Yuma, Arizona and Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE 2-23) in Twentynine Palms, California as part of her deployment work-up. In May of 2023, First Lieutenant Merino deployed with Alpha Battery in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP 23.2) aboard Okinawa, Japan. During her deployment, she participated in Exercise Shinka 23 in support of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force and Exercise Fuji Viper 23.4 in support of the Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Upon her return from deployment, First Lieutenant Merino served as Alpha Battery’s Executive Officer.