Rubuta ci gaba ga wannan sakin layi - Merritt ya kasance mai kula da scout lokacin da ya shiga Michigan National Guard a 1910. A shekara ta 1913 an ba Merritt girma zuwa corporal. An ba Merritt izini a matsayin mataimakin mataimakin a watan Mayu 1914. Merritt ya yi aiki a kan iyakar Texas-Mexico a lokacin da Pershing ya yi horo da Pancho Villa
, kuma ya taimaka wajen kafa rundunar bindiga ta farko ta bindiga. Duk da yake a Texas ya kafa tawagar farko ta Scout.