Master Gunnery Sergeant Angel E. Rodriguez
 National Level Accomplishments:
· During the Young Marine National Encampment of 1990, I was chosen to be on the National staff and billeted as the 'Adjutant'. At the conclusion of the encampment, I was awarded the Commendation of Merit (with the Gold Palm), by then National Director Byron Hasse.
· During the Young Marine National Encampment of 1992, I was chosen to be on the National staff and billeted as the Young Marine Camp Commander (Young Marine-in-charge). At the conclusion of the encampment, I was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (with Gold Palm), by then National Director Byron Hasse. Highlight: During this encampment, I commanded a 'Pass & Review" for the Under Secretary of the Navy and the National Director, while the Marine Corps Band played.
· Authored the "DEAR GUNNY" column in Dustin Gamble's National Young Marine Newsletter |
| State & Unit Level Accomplishments: · Top Graduate of the first ever Florida Battalion NCO/Leadership school · Developed a the first ever Young Marines of Dade Drill Team · Developed a the first ever Young Marines of Dade Color Guard |
| I'll tell you it all helped when I finally joined the Marine Corps. I graduated boot camp as PFC, went on to Marine Combat Training were I was selected as the Company Honor Man, and with only four months in the Corps I was promoted to LCPL. Eight months later I picked up CPL and one year after that I made Sergeant (2 years total). I pinned on Staff Sergeant (back in July 99) with less then six years in, which is extremely rare in the Corps. I attribute much of my success to the Young Marines. As for those seeking advice or my opinion of the program, all I can say is 'you get out of it, whatever you put into it.' You can't expect to be a SGT overnight, but if you work hard and really dedicate yourself to working on the things that the program stresses (school, drug-demand reduction, family, team work, physical fitness, discipline) you will absolutely be a better person.
Today, I continue to serve the Young Marines of Dade as the Executive Officer. I am also serving the Marine Corps Reserves as an Interrogator/Translator and the Department of Defense as a civilian Intelligence Analysts in the United States Southern Command.
Semper Fi, Angel E. Rodriguez SSGT/USMCR |