Rodney Jorges was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota Sept. 26, 1954. In March 1975 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Rodney went to basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Was assigned to Advanced Individual Training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. He made E-2 and E-3 while at Aberdeen. His first duty assignment was in the Republic of Korea. Rodney made E-4 in Sept. 1975. His next duty assignment was at Ft. Riley, Ks. He went to the E-5 board while stationed at Ft. Riley. He again went to Korea in 1978. From Korea he went to Ft. Stewart, Ga. Rodney was promoted to SGT/E-5 and went to the E-6 board while at Ft. Stewart. Rodney then went to Germany. While he was in 66^th Mt. Co. he made SSG/ E-6 and SFC/E-7. He was then transferred to Headquarters 87^th Mt. Bn and worked on the Material Staff for 4 years. He was HHC 1SG August 1989 – September 1990. Rodney was then assigned to Combat Equipment Group Europe and was NCOIC of Quality Control at 1^st. Combat Equipment Company in Mannheim Germany and was responsible for over 450 million dollars of equipment. He returned to the United States after 10 years and 11 months in Germany and was assigned to Readiness Group Redstone Maintenance Assistance and Instruction Team (MAIT). He assisted Army Reserve Units in Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He retired June 1, 1995 after 20 years of active duty. Rodney and his wife Helga lived in Huntsville, Al. for 22 years before moving to Tuscaloosa. Rodney is currently the Coordinator of Transportation for Tuscaloosa City Schools. 

Military Service

Inactive Reserve - March 1975 - May 1975

Active Duty - May 1975 - June 1995

Assignments

Basic Combat Training May -July 1975 D-5-2 Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.

Advanced Individual Training Sept. - November 1975 Aberdeen Proving Grounds Md.

61^stCS Maintenance Company (DS) 8^th Army Uijongbu, South Korea Jan 1976 - Feb. 1977

HC USAG 1^st. Infantry Division Ft. Riley, Ks. April 1977 - Sept. 1978

F. Co. 702^ndMt. Bn. 2^nd Infantry Division Tongduchon, Korea Oct. 1978 - Sept. 1979

A Co. 724^thMt. Bn 24^th Infantry Division Ft. Stewart, Ga. Oct. 1979 - July 1982

66^thMt. Co. 2^nd Support Command Kitzingen, Germany August 1982 - May 1985

HHC 87^thMt. Bn. 2^nd Support Command Wertheim, Germany May 1985 - Oct. 1990

1^stCombat Equipment Company Combat Equipment Group Europe Mannheim, Germany Oct. 1990 - July 1993

USA Readiness Group Redstone Huntsville, Al. Sept. 1993 - June 1995 

Education

Basic Technical Course – Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. Feb. 1981

PLDC – 3^rdInfantry Division, Kitzingen, Germany March 1984

ANCOC – Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. Honor Graduate March 1986

Columbia College Redstone Arsenal, Al. - B.A. General Studies W/Minor in Criminal Justice                   

Awards

3-Army Commendation Medals,  2 Army Achievement Medals, Good Conduct Medal 6, National Defense Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Ribbon ship with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon,  2 Overseas Ribbons, Expert Qualification Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar, Marksman Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar, Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic Bar.