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Marines


Biography

 

First Sergeant Brandon D. Rodriguez
Inspector-Instructor Unit Senior Enlisted Leader
HEADQUARTERS BATTERY, 5TH BATTALION, 14TH MARINE REGIMENT

First Sergeant Rodriguez enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 2005 where he was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.  Upon completion of recruit training in March 2006, he attended Marine Combat Training at School of Infantry West, Camp Pendleton, California and was then directed to report to Marine Corps Communications Electronic School, Twenty-nine Palms, California to be trained as a Field Radio Operator.  

First Sergeant Rodriguez graduated MOS school top of his class in June 2006 and was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal.  He then received orders to 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, Lima Battery in Twenty-nine Palms, CA.  

While serving as a radio operator with Lima Battery, First Sergeant Rodriguez was assigned to the Fire Support Liaison section.  There he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in September 2006 and again to Okinawa, Japan in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) January 2008, participating in Operation Balikatan, Philippines and Cobra Gold, Thailand.  Returning from the MEU, First Sergeant Rodriguez received orders to Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 38, Miramar, CA. 

While stationed at Miramar, First Sergeant Rodriguez was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in August 2009.  While serving at MWCS-38, First Sergeant Rodriguez was assigned as the Transmissions Platoon Sergeant and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.  First Sergeant Rodriguez returned with orders to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hawaii.

In February 2011, First Sergeant Rodriguez reported to the Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command (JPAC), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.  He served as a Telecommunications Specialist with the JPAC, Investigation and Recovery Group, tasked with finding the remains of fallen soldiers and Marines.   He deployed on 11 worldwide missions to include Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Kiribati (Tarawa), Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Vanuatu and Europe.  Between rotations, First Sergeant Rodriguez attended Marine Corps Base Hawaii's Resident Sergeants Course and was commemorated as the Honor Graduate.

In May 2014, First Sergeant Rodriguez transferred to 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii where he served as the S-6 Radio Chief.  After a short time within this unit, he volunteered to serve as a Drill Instructor and reported to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in October 2014.  Upon graduation, he reported to Company D, First Recruit Training Battalion.  First Sergeant Rodriguez was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in October 2015.  While at 1st Recruit Training Battalion, First Sergeant Rodriguez served as Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Chief Drill Instructor.  First Sergeant Rodriguez' outstanding performance as a Drill Instructor earned him the opportunity for promotion as a meritorious Gunnery Sergeant on July 2, 2017.  Upon completion of Drill Instructor Duty, First Sergeant Rodriguez received orders to Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton California.

In December 2017, upon check-in, First Sergeant Rodriguez was reassigned to CLB-13 to serve as Communications Chief for the Logistic Combat Element of the 13th MEU.  While on the MEU, First Sergeant Rodriguez participated in exercises in Indonesia, Djibouti, United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.  Returning from the MEU, First Sergeant Rodriguez received orders to Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Company, Central Command (FASTCENT), Bahrain.

In January 2020, First Sergeant Rodriguez checked into Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Central Command, where he served as the Communications Chief for FASTCENT.  Upon selection to the rank of First Sergeant, he was appointed as the FASTCENT Company First Sergeant from November 2020 to February 2022. 

In March 2022, First Sergeant Rodriguez reported to 5th Battalion 14th Marines Seal Beach, Ca where he is currently serving as Site Inspector Instructor First Sergeant.

First Sergeant Rodriguez' personal decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) gold star in lieu of 3rd award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” and (1) gold star in lieu of 2nd award, and Combat Action Ribbon.