U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas A. Merle has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
Merle is the grandson of Joseph Merle of Lyndhurst, N.J.
He graduated in 2011 from home-schooling in Clayton and earned an associate degree in 2015 from Johnston Community College in Smithfield.
