Welcome to the East Coweta High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC)
The ECHS MCJROTC has two instructors:
Senior Marine Instructor: Major USMC (ret) Pete Merrill
Marine Instructor: Sergeant Major USMC (ret) Scott Braden
Marine Instructor East Coweta High School
Sergeant Major USMC (ret)
Scott Braden
Hails from Pittsburgh PA and enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1997. He completed recruit training on July, 18th 1997 at Parris Island South Carolina. He completed Marine Combat Training and engineer equipment mechanics course in the same year.
Upon completion of entry level training Sergeant Major Braden reported to 2nd Maintenance Bn 2nd FSSG, Camp Lejeune North Carolina until 1999 when he received orders and reported to 1st Marine Air Wing, MACS-4, Okinawa Japan. While with MACS-4 he participated in various training exercises in the Philippines and Korea.
In 2001 Sergeant Major Braden transferred to I&I, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, Baltimore Maryland where he served as Maintenance Chief and Color Sergeant. In 2004 Sergeant Major Braden reported to Drill Instructor School, Parris Island, South Carolina. While at Parris Island he served as Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Marine Combat Instructor Trainer of Water Survival.
In 2007 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to 2nd Maintenance Bn, Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as Platoon Sergeant, Maintenance Chief, and Company Gunnery Sergeant and deployed in support of OIF as a combat advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division, MiTT 0100 from Oct 2007 to Sept 2008. In 2010 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to CLB 4, 3rd MLG, Okinawa Japan. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF from January to July of 2012 and participated in training exercises in the Philippines, Korea, and 29 Palms CA.
In 2013 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to 8th Engineer Support Bn, 2nd MLG, Camp Lejune NC and served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant. In 2014 he was selected to First Sergeant and transferred to Engineer School where he served as Combat Engineer Instruction Company First Sergeant.
In 2016 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to 2nd Bn 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
While with 2/8 he served as Weapons Company First Sergeant and upon selection to Sergeant Major he served as 2/8 Bn Sergeant Major. In 2016 he deployed with 2/8 to Romania in support of Black Sea Rotational Force and the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa Japan in 2018.
In 2019 Sergeant Major Braden was transferred to Recruiting Station Springfield MA, Marine Corps Recruiting Command where he served as the Recruiting Station Sergeant Major. He retired in July of 2022 and began his current position as East Coweta High School, JROTC, Marine Instructor.
Senior Instructor East Coweta High School
Major USMC (ret)
Pete Merrill
Maj Merrill graduated the US Naval Academy in 1992. Upon graduation he became an USMC Infantry Officer. From 1993 to 1996, He served in 3 Battalion, 8th Marines as a rifle platoon commander, CAAT platoon commander and a rifle company executive officer where he completed 3 operational deployments. From 1996 to 1999, Maj Merrill was assigned as the Officer in Charge of the USMC Combat Marksmanships school at Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico Virginia. From 2000-2003, Major Merrill served as a rifle company commander, weapons company commander and operations officer for 2 Battalion, 8th Marines during 2 operational deployments and a tour in support of NATO operations in the former Yugoslavia. In 2001, Major Merrill served in 3rd Bn, 6th Marines as company commander and task force commander during combat operation in the county of Afghanistan. From 2002 to 2006, Major Merrill served as an Inspector Instructor for 25th Marines where he served as an operations officer for 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2007 to 2011, Major Merrill served in the 2nd Marine Division and completed 2 tours as a combat advisor in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He retired in 2012 and became the JROTC instructor in 2013. Wife Mary with 2 daughters who have been students in ECHS.
Company Commander: Cadet Captain Payton Nash
First Sergeant: Cadet First Sergeant Elijah Clark
Executive Officer: Cadet 1st Lieutenant Diana Abaunza-Pimental
Admin Officer: Cadet Second Lieutenant Makenzie Rose
Supply Officer: Cadet Second Lieutenant Ciera Lonkert
JROTC letter to parents.docx (2).pdf