Staff Sgt. Michael Noyce Merino of the Montana Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment, is the first National Guard Soldier ever to be named as the Department of the Army’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Noyce Merino, a native of Melrose, Mont., took the title as the top NCO in the Army after besting competitors from the Army’s 12 major commands during the Sergeant Major of the Army’s “Best Warrior Competition” held at Fort Lee, Va. from Sept. 30 – Oct 3. Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston, the Army’s top Noncommissioned officer, presented Noyce Merino with the title at a ceremony in Washington D.C. “The best NCO in the U.S. Army is a Montana NCO.” said Command Sgt. Major Robert Bennett, Montana state command sergeant major. “Noyce Merino is a phenomenal young NCO and he has a bright future.” Noyce Merino proved himself as the Army’s top NCO through physical fitness tests and urban warfare simulations, warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to today’s combat environments. He also demonstrated his military
bearing and knowledge of Army subjects through board interviews with six senior Sergeants Major from across the Army. “Best Warrior is a test of my training and determination and is a representation of my unit’s level of discipline and ability to support its Soldiers,” said Merino. Noyce Merino’s win is notable because this is the first year that the National Guard and Army Reserve have been involved in the competition as major commands. In the past, Reserve Component Soldiers who competed were representing active Army commands. Spc. David Obray, a construction equipment repair specialist from the Minnesota Army Reserve took the title as the Army’s Soldier of the Year during the same competition. Noyce Merino began competing in NCO of the year competitions at Company B in Missoula, Mont. and progressed on to win the regional competition held at Fort Harrison in April. He earned the right to compete in the Department of the Army competition after being named as the Army National Guard’s “Best Warrior” NCO on Aug. 21 at Fort Benning, Ga. As the Army’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Noyce Merino will receive prestigious honors and a cash award in recognition of his achievement. He will also represent the Army at special events throughout the country in the next year. Noyce Merino joined the Montana Army National Guard in 2007 and has been in the Army for seven years. He is a combat veteran who has served one tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A student at Montana Tech in Butte, Noyce Merino is pursuing a degree in business while working as a supervisor for UPS. He and his wife Shelli, live in Melrose, where he takes on the additional task of helping to manage the family ranch with his sister, Mary.