Merle Weyant:
CLASS OF 1971
Las Cruces High SchoolClass of 1971
Las cruces, NM
New Mexico State UniversityClass of 1991
Las cruces, NM
Dona Ana Branch Community CollegeClass of 1989
Las cruces, NM
New Mexico State UniversityClass of 1977
Las cruces, NM
Merle's Story
Life:
I live in the small village of Tortugas which is just outside of Las Cruces in the house that was built by my grand parents. I am single and have never been married. I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but I have it under control.
After graduating from Las Cruces High, I attended New Mexico State University where I obtained two bachelor degrees. I then entered into the military where I spent six years and nine months in the United States Navy. After my enlistment ended, I returned to Las Cruces and worked for a while.
I then decided to go back to college under the GI Bill. I attended Las Cruces Community College where I earned two associate degrees. I then attended New Mexico State University for a while until the benefits from the GI Bill ran out. I then went back into the work force:
College:
I attended New Mexico State University from the summer of 1971 to August 1977. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Police Science which was my major, and a Bachelor of Arts in History which was my minor. I have all ways loved history.
I attended Dona Ana Community College from 1985 to 1987, and I earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Microcomputer Technology, which was my major, and an Associate Degree in Applied Science, Pre-Business, which was my minor.
I attended New Mexico State University again to try to get a Bachelor in Business Computer Systems from 1987 to 1990. I was short 12 credit hours for the degree when the benefits from the GI Bill ran out. I needed to get back into the work force.
Workplace:
My first job after college was with the United States Navy where I served for six years and nine months. After I got out of the Navy, I tried working as a jailer with the Dona Ana County Sheriff, but that only lasted about a month as I did not like the work.
I then attended Dona Ana Community College and New Mexico State University until my benefits from the GI Bill ran out. When I returned to the work force I went to work for Pinkerton Security as a security guard at the Las Cruces National Guard Armory from 1991 to 1994. From 1992 to 1994, I was the supervisor for Pinkerton Security at the Las Cruces National Guard Armory.
In 1994, Pinkerton Security lost the contract for the Las Cruces National Guard Armory in October. I was then able to get a job with Aerotherm in November of 1994 at the High Energy Laser System Testing Facility at White Sands Missile Range, which is known as HELSTF.
I worked as a Computer Operator 1 until 1995 at which time I became a Computer Operator 2. I worked there until January 1999 at which time Aerotherm lo...Expand for more
st the contract, but I was picked up by the new company, Northrop Grumman.
In 1999, I was made a Computer Operator 3. I worked with the computers recording test data, and then processing the test data. I had to leave Northrop Grumman in 2004 due to a medical condition. I have been on disability ever since.
Military:
I enlisted in the United States Navy in 1977 after graduating from New Mexico State University under the advance electronics program. I attended naval recruit training in 1977 at the San Diego Naval Recruit Training Center in San Diego, California.
After graduation in 1977, I reported to the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. After graduation in 1978, I reported to the Dan Neck Fleet Combat Training Center near Virginia Beach, Virginia. I attended the Polaris Missile Basic Electronics "A" school. After graduating, I then attended the Missile Technician "C" school at the same place.
After graduation in 1978, I was ordered to the nuclear powered missile submarine, U.S.S. Tecumseh, which was in dry dock going overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. I was assigned to the Gold Crew. Each Missile submarine has two crews, the gold and the blue. Each crew takes control of the submarine for three months at a time, and at end of the three months, the other crew will take over. This is done because the submarine remains under water during much of its patrol and it has been found that it works best to have two crews. The two crews help each other when they change over in order to get the submarine ready to go out again in two weeks.
In 1979, I reported to Charleston Naval Base in Charleston, South Carolina as that was the U.S.S. Tecumseh' home port. I was part of the crew that got to fire a missile during sea trails. I got to see part of Florida and the US Virgin Islands when we took the U.S.S. Tecumseh out for sea trails. I stayed on the U.S.S. Tecumseh's until 1980 when I was able to transfer to a surface ship. I wanted to see some of the world and that was not possible on board a submarine.
At this time I changed my rating from Missile Technician to an Electronics Technician. I reported to the U.S.S. Barbey, a guided missile destroyer escort, at the San Diego Naval Station. I got to see the Indian Ocean, and I got to visit Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan. I stayed on the U.S.S. Barbey until the end of my sea tour of duty in 1982.
In 1982, I was transferred to Bellieve Naval Air Station in Texas for shore duty, where I worked helping with the commutation equipment. I stayed there until the end of my enlistment in 1984.
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