JROTC

Champions Battalion

Welcome to the Champions Battalion webpage! We're glad that you took the time to visit us, and to learn more about our amazing cadets, exciting activities and wonderful accomplishments.

The Mission of JROTC is "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens."

Please take take a few moments to look at the other parts of our webpage.

Sponsor: Captain (Retired) Steven Fife and Sergeant First Class (Retired) Thomas Merrill

Contact Information:

CPT (R) Steven Fife (602) 764-4128,

Email Steven Fife

SFC (R) Thomas Merrill (602) 764-4127, Email Thomas Merrill

For more information about the Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, please visit usarmyjrotc.com

LET 1 & 2 Documents

Battalion History

The Ninth Battalion of the Phoenix Army Cadet Brigade was established in August 1999 as a National Defense Cadet Corps Program. The first Principals' Review was conducted on the football field in Febuaray 2000 as a dedication ceremony.

By the time the Battalion converted to JROTC status with an Activation Ceremony in February 2001, cadets had truely established themselves as Champions by winning over 70 competition trophies, earning official recognition by the Maricopa County Adopt-a-highway Department, and recieving many other accolades from numerous state and national organizations including the Arizona Muliple Sclerosis Society and Vietnam Veterans of America.

The school district's Bond Measure in the local election of November 2003, included the constuction of a new JROTC multi-use building that was intended to replicate the original classroom facility and add an adjacent indoor air rifle marksmanship range with 16 firing points. The Measure passed, and construction began with a Groundbreaking Ceremony in September 2007. Completion was celebrated in March 2008 with a special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Later that same year, the Battalion hosted its first CMP sanctioned match, the Carver Mountain Air Rifle Marksmanship tournament in the new indoor range, and has continued that tradition annually.

Champions Battalion Newsletter

Senior Army Instructor

Captain Steven R Fife
Senior Army Instructor, Cesar Chavez High School Army JROTC
Laveen, AZ

Army Instructor

SFC THOMAS MERRILL

Army Instructor
Cesar Chavez High School
Laveen, AZ

I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June of 1988 as an Amphibious Assault Crewman, attending basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. In April of 1994 I entered service with theUnited States Army as a Cavalry Scout. My deployments consist of Desert Shield/Storm in 1991 and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2008 to 2009 with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII.

I have held various positions throughout my career including vehicle crew chief, A Co, 2nd AAV Battalion, USMC; CavalryScout, B Troop, 3rd Squadron 7th Cavalry; Chemical Specialist, 135th Chemical Company; Recruiting and Retention NCO; Squad Leader, 1stBattalion, 131st Infantry Regiment; and most recently, I served as a Platoon Sergeant and Operations Sergeant with A Co Engineers, 33rdBrigade Special Troops Battalion until my retirement on 1 September 2014.

My military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal: Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Southwest Asia Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with "M" device); NCO Professional Development Ribbon; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal (ISAF); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Navy Unit Commendation; and the Army Superior Unit Award.

I have been married to Autumn for twelve years now and have two wonderful sons, Devon and Brennan. I am extremely excited to work with the young Cadets as an Army Instructor here at Cesar Chavez High School.