05/27/2025
“They will remember my name.” -El Jefe.
SFC Antonio Rey Rodriguez, known by his teammates as “Rod” and to us as “El Jefe”, was one of the original founders of Hoodlums & Brigands. Before HB ever had a page, Rod embodied what it meant to move with purpose, protect your people, and stay solid.
Rod began his military career in 2009 at Fort Benning, GA, where he completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) as an Infantryman (11B) and graduated from US Army Airborne School. He then passed the Regimental Assessment and Selection Program (RASP), earning his place in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, under U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Assigned to Delta Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Rod deployed multiple times as an assaulter before attending and graduating from US Army Ranger School. He earned his Ranger Tab and went on to lead as a Fire Team Leader and later as a Reconnaissance Specialist in the Battalion Recon Platoon.
In 2017, Rod made a rare transition to the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (RMIB), retraining as a Cryptologic Linguist (35P). He then moved on to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (ODA-7313), where he continued operating.
On February 8, 2020, Rod was killed in action while conducting combat operations in the Sherzad District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
Rod deployed 8 times with the 75th Ranger Regiment and once with 7th Special Forces Group. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and many others earned through a lifetime of service, sacrifice, and leadership.
He wasn’t just a Ranger, Rod was my brother, a protector, and a visionary. He helped lay the foundation for what HB stands for today.
We carry his name, his legacy, and his energy in every move we make.
This one’s for El Jefe.
