Jesus Rodriguez

Staff Sergeant Jesus Rodriguez is a combat-experienced Noncommissioned Officer with over two decades of proven leadership in the United States Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. He honorably served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq in 2003 in support of the Global War on Terror. During this deployment, SSG Rodriguez participated in major combat operations including the Battle of An-Nasiriyah, sustained urban combat in Fallujah, and multiple missions throughout the Sunni Triangle of Death in 2004. Operating in high-intensity combat environments, he gained extensive experience in coordinated fires, maneuver support, and small-unit leadership under fire—establishing a foundation of discipline, resilience, and combat leadership that continues to define his service.

As a 13B Cannon Crewmember, SSG Rodriguez has served in every critical howitzer position from Driver through Chief of Section, demonstrating comprehensive mastery of both the M198 towed howitzer and the M109A6 Paladin. His technical proficiency includes emplacement and displacement operations, crew drills, fire mission execution, safety procedures, and gunnery standards. He has supported the Battalion through four OPFOR rotations and four state fire missions, consistently ensuring the accurate, timely, and safe delivery of fires while maintaining strict adherence to Field Artillery doctrine and technical manuals.

Earlier in his Army career, SSG Rodriguez reclassified as an 11B Infantryman to expand his understanding of maneuver operations and combined-arms integration. In 2008, he deployed to Iraq with the 185th, serving in convoy security operations and as a lead vehicle driver responsible for route planning, vehicle spacing, immediate action drills, and command and control in hostile environments. This experience further strengthened his ability to integrate fires with maneuver elements and enhanced his effectiveness as a Field Artillery leader.