Since winning the Army’s NCO of the Year competition last fall, Montana Staff Sgt. Michael Noyce Merino has been traveling around the country representing the Army and the Army Guard at pre-eminent Soldier events, not to mention meeting the president and riding on Air Force One.
He’s attended congressional hearings, Youth ChalleNGe events, the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, the Future Farmers of America convention in Montana, and met both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon at a NASCAR event.
This combat veteran and cattle rancher is the first Guardsman to achieve the prestigious title. As busy as he is, he took time to answer a few questions from On Guard.
How many times in the past six months have you explained that your last name isn’t hyphenated?
More times than I can count.
Believe it or not, I have actually considered hyphenating my name to make it easier to explain to people. I am holding out because I’m stubborn and because I want to preserve my unique way of mixing my white and Hispanic heritages.
What has been your favorite moment so far?
Of course it would be the moment I stood on the stage at the AUSA convention, holding the trophy and watching the standing, applauding crowd through blurry eyes.
It felt like reaching the top of Mount Everest and looking out at the clouds.
It was very validating for a man who had questioned himself many times through his military career.
Can you recite the NCO Creed by heart or do you need a cue sheet?
I can recite it by heart and have been able to do so since before I was an NCO.
I believe that anyone wanting to become a NCO should not only memorize the creed, but also internalize it and make it a large part of his leadership strategy.
I believe that whenever the creed is recited, NCOs should stand and recite it, much like the Pledge of Allegiance. The creed is and should be the code by which NCOs lead their soldiers.
What was the most interesting thing on Air Force One, besides the president?
Probably that everything, and I mean everything, had the Presidential Seal on it. Napkins, playing cards, notepaper, matches, cups, even the miniature Tabasco bottles. Being a big hot sauce fan,
I had to acquire one of those bottles for my collection.
Has your wife gotten over being called by the president while riding aboard Air Force One?
Every now and then we still look at each other and say, “Wow, that really happened.”
We both feel blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to experience this amazing series of events.
Did you get any White House M&Ms?
I did, actually, but I haven’t decided when to eat them.
My sister used to hoard candy for months, while I ate all mine on the first day. I am trying to find some balance in my life through these M&Ms.
Will you try for two-in-a-row?
Fortunately, I am not allowed to compete ever again.
Even if I could, I wouldn’t compete, for two reasons: I want other NCOs to have the opportunity to match their wits and skills against each other, and also because I feel a great deal of pressure, mostly self-inflicted, to live up to everyone’s expectations for me.
It was hard enough last time, I feel as though it would be nearly impossible now. I do believe in quitting while you’re ahead.
Any advice for Soldiers competing in SOY/NCOY?
Just go ahead and do it. No matter what the outcome, you will be better off for participating.
You will gain knowledge, experience and confidence, and it will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Some people do not believe in the value of competition, but as Soldiers, competition is what we do.
On every mission we conduct we are competing.
Competing against the limitations of time, manpower and equipment; competing against the
terrain and environment; and ultimately competing against our adversary.
It is the Soldier’s will to win that triumphs in each one of these situations.
What’s harder: winning NCOY or throwing calves around on your ranch?
That depends on the age of the calf. I just got done helping my sister brand her calves and I feel like I fought my way through Combatives School.
Her calves are only two or three months old, but I have branded calves that were as much as six and seven months old.
Those feel more like trying to subdue Brock Lesnar (heavyweight mixed martial artist).
Has the Army’s perception of the National Guard changed? If so, how? If not, why not? Will it ever?
I hope that the active component’s view of the National Guard has changed and is continuing to change.
I know that coming from AD into the Guard changed my perception.
I think that the problem is that the components see each other as separate forces, when in reality, a large part of the National Guard came from AD, and Soldiers from all three components fight alongside each other overseas.
In the end, one unit or component can say whatever it wants to about another, but the test comes in performance – in training, competition and during deployments.
Ultimately, performance will change the Army’s and the country’s perception of the National Guard.
Are you scheduled to deploy next year?
I am not currently scheduled to deploy, but the option always exists to volunteer with a unit that is going.
I am torn between wanting to join my fellow Guardsmen overseas and looking after my family.
After six years of active service and three deployments, I feel that my responsibility now is to take care of my wife and my sister for a little while.
What is the biggest issue for enlisted personnel in the National Guard today?
From my experience, the biggest problem for Guardsmen is keeping themselves physically fit. Using my own life as an example, I had two jobs and full-time school in addition to my traditional Guard position.
It was very difficult for me to find the time and energy to constantly maintain a level of physical fitness that I was satisfied with.
In the end, the only way I was able to reach my fitness goals was by having a workout buddy who gave me the motivation I needed to push myself to be fit.
What are some upcoming events you plan on attending?
I have numerous events planned and expect to attend many more unplanned.
Without going into great detail, I will be doing some events with the Guard’s GED Plus program, as well as with the Montana Youth ChalleNGe Program.
I will also be attending this year’s round of competitions as I look forward to handing the torch off to another Guardsman.
There are a few more events that I am purposefully leaving out, because I don’t want to spoil the surprise.