Luigi Aprea Principal Richard Rodriguez will swap out his suit
and tie for a pair of fatigues next month when he heads off to Army
basic training.
Luigi Aprea Principal Richard Rodriguez will swap out his suit and tie for a pair of fatigues next month when he heads off to Army basic training.
Being a soldier runs in Rodriguez’s blood. By joining the Army National Guard, the 40-year-old Salinas native – the youngest
of seven children – hopes to make his father, and his country, proud. Rodriguez’s father, a soldier who served stateside during World War II, passed away earlier this year – but not before his youngest son shared the news.
“I know my dad was very proud of me,” Rodriguez said. “I’m carrying on a tradition. It’s important to me. This is an important mission.”
Rodriguez considered enlisting when he was a teenager but decided to give college a try instead. With a bachelor’s degree in community studies and history from University of California, Santa Cruz, and two master’s degrees – one in education from Stanford University and another in leadership and administration from San Jose State University – under his belt, launching his career was the next obvious step. He taught in the classroom for seven years before setting his sights on an administrative position.
“I thought I could reach more kids that way,” he said. “I wanted a challenge. I’ve always been willing to try new things. I try to model that for my students.”
He’s headed Luigi Aprea Elementary School for three years now and has every intention of continuing his duties uninterrupted at the tightly knit school.
“I sort of see myself like a town mayor,” he joked. “I still live in Salinas but it feels like my home is (at Luigi Aprea).”
Come June 16, Rodriguez will make Fort Jackson in South Carolina his temporary home when he ships out for 10 weeks of basic training. He’ll join a host of men and women who joined the Army for a variety of reasons, said Staff Sgt. Teddy Ackley.
“Everybody joins for a different reason, some for the training, some for the education, some for the monetary benefits,” Ackley said. “But they’re all here to serve their country. The U.S. is a very lucky country that it still has an all-voluntary military.”
As a National Guardsman, Rodriguez can be called on to serve in the case of a national disaster or in other emergencies that occur within U.S. borders. He could also be deployed to serve abroad.
“What I’ve enjoyed most so far is the sense of camaraderie and teamwork,” Rodriguez said, his eyes lighting up as he spoke about the friends he’s made so far. “There are really no individuals in the military. We fight together as a team.”
Looking forward to basic training, Rodriguez’s summer will be quite different than previous ones.
“I’m really jazzed about it,” Rodriguez said. “It’ll be 10 weeks of transforming a civilian into a soldier.”
But it’s Rodriguez’s years as a civilian that helped fuel his desire to join the military.
“Working where I do, having gone to college and living in this great society, I felt it was my time to do my part,” he said. “I love our country. I feel like I always do my share to show support but then I asked myself, ‘Is there something more I can do?'”
On Feb. 5, Rodriguez enlisted.
“One of my proudest moments was when I raised my right hand and swore to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies,” he said.
At 5 feet, 4 inches, he’s the shortest soldier in his battalion, the 340th brigade support battalion out of Seaside. But what he lacks in height, he makes up for in physical fitness, commitment and command presence.
“He’s really an outstanding soldier, an asset to the National Guard,” Ackley said. “We’re happy to have him.”
After basic training, Rodriguez will resume his regular duties at Luigi Aprea. In the fall, he will begin Officer Candidates School – a 12-month course that takes place one weekend each month. Upon graduating, Rodriguez will rise to the level of second lieutenant.
Already, he’s an acting platoon leader, overseeing about 40 men and women.
“It’s a tremendous responsibility, and a great honor,” he said. “I want to get it right.”
