Tuhia tētahi tohutoro mō tēnei wāhanga - He kaiārahi kaitiaki a Merritt i a ia e uru atu ana ki te Michigan National Guard i te tau 1910. I te tau 1913 i whakatairangahia a Merritt ki te corporal. I whakawhiwhia a Merritt hei tuarua tuarua i te marama o Mei 1914. I mahi a Merritt i te rohe o Texas-Mexico i te haerenga whiu a Pershing ki a Pancho Villa
, ā, i āwhina ia ki te whakatū i te poari pū mīhini motokā tuatahi. I a ia e noho ana i Texas, ka whakatūria e ia te rōpū Kaitiaki Tuatahi.