Sergeant Major Rodriguez enlisted in the United State Marines Corps on August 18, 1987 and attended boot Camp at Parris Island South Carolina. Upon completion of training, he was assigned the MOS of 2537, Field Radio Operator, and attended the basic radio course at 29 Palms, California.
Sergeant Major Rodriguez’s first assignment was with Mike Battery, 4thBn, 12th Marines on Okinawa, Japan. He worked as a field radio operator and a wireman and participated in several joint exercises in Korea. He subsequently received orders to 2nd Surveillance Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group, Camp Lejeune North Carolina and was assigned to 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. While assigned to 2nd ANGLICO, he served as a radio operator, earned his jump wings, deployed with to South America with UNITAS 32, and deployed in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay.
In April of 1993, he was promoted to Sergeant and volunteered for recruiting duty. Upon graduation from recruiting school, he was assigned to Recruiting Substation St Petersburg, RS Orlando, 6th Marine Corps district. Upon a successful tour in 1996, he received orders to the Marine Communication Detachment, USS Blue Ridge, 7th Fleet at Yokosuka Naval base Japan.
In 1998, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and received orders to 8th Communications Bn, Camp Lejeune North Carolina. He subsequently attended the Radio Chief Course at 29 Palms California. In 1999, he deployed with the 22nd MEU Command Element and upon his return he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. While with 8th CommBn, he served as a Radio Chief, Maintenance Chief, Communications Chief and First Sergeant.
In March of 2002, he volunteered for Duty as a Marine Security Guard and upon completion of school he served as a Detachment Commander to the US Embassies in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Sofia, Bulgaria.
In Feb 2005, he was promoted to First Sergeant and was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Bn, Camp Lejeune North Carolina. He served as the First Sergeant for Bravo and H&S Company and deployed to Iraq in 2006 and 2007 in support of combat operations.
In August 2008 he was promoted to Sergeant Major and was subsequently assigned to 2nd Medical Bn, 2nd Marine Logistics Group Camp Lejeune. In April of 2009, he received orders to the School of Infantry-East and served as the Sergeant Major for Headquarters and Support Bn and Marine Combat Training Bn. In Feb 2011, he received orders to MWSS-274, MAG-29, Cherry Point, N.C. and served there until Sept 2012. In October of 2012, he reported to MALS-36 where he served as the Squadron SgtMaj until December of 2012 when he was reassigned to MAG 36. At MAG 36, he participated in several multi-lateral exercises in the Pacific in support of Operation Damayan, the typhoon relief effort to the Republic of Philippines.
He completed his tour with MAG-36 and was issued orders to Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools (MCCSSS) at Camp Johnson, North Carolina where he took charge as the Sergeant Major of MCCSSS.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.