SFC Antonio Rey Rodriguez, known by his teammates as “ROD,” began his career at Fort Benning, GA in 2009 where he attended both One Station Unit Training (OSUT) to become an Infantryman (11B) and US Army Airborne School. After his successful completion of both OSUT and Airborne School, SFC Rodriguez attended the Regimental Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). RASP is a selection program that requires successful completion in order to become a member of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment falling under United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Upon successfully completing assessment and selection, SFC Rodriguez was assigned to Delta Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment headquartered in Fort Benning, GA. SFC Rodriguez deployed multiple times as an assaulter on the strike force before successfully completing US Army Ranger School. After earning the coveted Ranger Tab, he was then selected to be a Fire Team Leader in Delta Company. SFC Rodriguez was later assigned to the Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company. In 2017, SFC Rodriguez transitioned to the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (RMIB) where he attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to become a Cryptologic Linguist (35P). After leaving the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (RMIB), SFC Rodriguez was assigned to 3rd Battalion 7th Special Forces Group’s (ODA-7313) Military Intelligence Detachment. On February 8th, 2020 SFC Rodriguez was killed in action while conducting combat operations in the Sherzad District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. SFC Rodriguez deployed 8 times with the 75th Ranger Regiment and twice with 7th Special Forces Group. SFC Rodriguez’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Good Conduct Medal (second award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (two Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. SFC Rodriguez was posthumously awarded the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
