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MADRID, Spain- Standing only 5’3” in height, her presence was 10 feet tall. Her poise and professionalism filled the courtyard, starting with her opening remarks. “It is an incredible feeling to be standing here in front of you all today, knowing that I am here representing the Marine Corps,” said Cpl Dana Rodriguez, a postal clerk assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa.
After thanking Mr. Krishna R. Urs and the members of the Madrid Chapter of the U.S. Navy League for honoring her with the Marine of the Year Award, she took the audience on a step-by-step journey of how she ended up behind that podium. She began with, “It all came down to one decision.”
“Ever since I was little I wanted to be that light at the end of the tunnel encouraging individuals to keep pushing,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez knew she wanted to leave behind the adversities of her childhood and better herself while inspiring others at the same time, but she wasn’t sure how.
“I remember seeing Marine Corps commercials on television and telling myself ‘Oh how awesome it would be to become a Marine’,” said Rodriguez.
After sneaking out of her parents’ house and making her way to a recruiting office, she finally arrived at Military Entrance Processing Station and made it official.
“I remember walking into my house, seeing both my parents in the kitchen eating and telling them today I signed up to earn the title Marine,” said Rodriguez. Her father’s first words to her were, “I hope you don’t regret this unwise decision.”
Little did he know that those eight words would be the fuel behind all of her success in the Marine Corps. “Those words encourage me to train harder and turn into the best Marine I could possibly be,” said Rodriguez.
She went on to explain how Postal Clerk was not her first choice of Military Occupation Specialty. “This is not the job I signed up for,” said Rodriguez. “I didn’t even know that was a job in the Marine Corps.” Although upset and a little discouraged by the newfound MOS assignment, Rodriguez gathered her thoughts and told herself, “You know what, it doesn’t matter. I am still a Marine. I am going to continue pushing and moving forward.”
As soon as she entered her first unit, Rodriguez began to learn everything she could from her leadership, asking, “What are the tools I need to make me into the Marine I strive to be?”
The first time Rodriguez encountered a Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor with a red tab on his belt, she instantly became inspired. “I thought ‘That’s crazy, I wonder how much pain his body went through to earn those tabs’,” said Rodriguez. “Then I thought, ‘I want that’.”
She started visualizing herself as an instructor. On December 16th 2016 she earned her instructor tab and became a Martial Arts Instructor.
Setting small goals and excellent time management allowed Rodriguez to accomplish more than she ever imagined. Once the operational tempo of the SPMAGTF-CR-AF became second nature, Rodriguez was able to implement a twice-a-day MCMAP course for her Marines. She was able to balance the responsibilities of work, MCMAP, personal fitness and other collateral duties all while successfully supporting the movement and distribution of 4,318 lbs. of mail in support of more than 600 Marines on Morón Air Base. She has supported Marines and Sailors across Europe with a total of 8,907 lbs. of mail.
Whenever her Marines ask her how she does it she responds with, “It’s you. It’s the Marines, my leadership.” “Seeing my Marines succeed through their hard work has made this deployment and my time in the Marine Corps worth it.”
“Being in the Marine Corps taught me how to be a good leader,” said Rodriguez. “You must be able to instill discipline, dedication and determination and always think outside the box, always lead and never give up on your Marines no matter what happens.”
Rodriguez finished her speech with her favorite quote, which describes her time in the Marine Corps.
“The question isn’t how much more can you take, but how much more can you give? Just when you’re ready to quit, your mind says, push harder. You listen, sensing an inner strength that wasn’t there before. And suddenly you discover you no longer feel pain.”
So, to her father’s response, “No, I will never regret the best decision I have ever made in my life”, said Rodriguez. “I am a United States Marine.”
When she finished the courtyard erupted into applause. She was a hard award winner to follow. The Sailor of the Year mentioned how hard it will be to follow a Cpl like her before he started his words of appreciation.
It was a humbling night at the Residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid for Rodriguez.
Due to her hard work, dedication to the SPMAGTF-CR-AF, and inspiring speech, she received comments such as, “Marine, I’ll work for you any day,” from Col Carlos H. Ortiz, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, Spain and President, U.S. Section of the Permanent Committee.
“I can tell what a leader looks like,” said Ortiz. “She stood up there and bared her soul for everyone.”
As she walked across the courtyard and made her way to the front door, guests of the event gathered to say their final congratulations to Rodriguez.
Lieutenant Col Marc Beaudreau, Deputy Chief, Army Program Manager, Secretary, U.S. Section of the Permanent Committee, said, that’s the “future Commandant,” and “I shook her hand.”
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2017 01:56 |
| Story ID: | 237789 |
| Location: | MORóN AIR BASE, ES |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marine accepts Marine of the Year Award from the Madrid Chapter U.S. Navy League, by 1LT Alexandra Bello, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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