Sergeant Major, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
​​First Sergeant Rodney J Redhead

First Sergeant Redhead was born on 24 June 1981 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, WI.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 25 September 2000 and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.  After receiving follow on training at Marine Combat Training School (MCT), Camp Geiger, North Carolina, he reported to Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson, North Carolina, and received the MOS of 0151.

In March 2001, 1stSgt Redhead was promoted to Private First Class and reported to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as an Order Writing Clerk and Manpower/Assignments Clerk.  He was promoted to Lance Corporal in November 2001 and then to Corporal in November 2002.

In October 2003, 1stSgt Redhead reenlisted and received orders to the Command Element, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the S-1 NCOIC, Awards and Fitness Reports NCO and Training NCO.  In January 2004, he attended the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Corporals Course and was the Honor Graduate.  In February 2004, he was selected as the 11th MEU NCO of the Quarter, 2nd Qtr, FY 2004.  1stSgt Redhead was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in May 2004.   While at the MEU he deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In October 2006 he attended the SNCOA Sergeants Course at Camp Pendleton, California, and was the Honor Graduate.

In April 2007, 1stSgt Redhead was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and reported to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California.  He distinguished himself amongst his peers and was the Honor Graduate for Drill Instructor School, Class 3-07. 1stSgt Redhead was assigned to Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor and Chief Drill Instructor.  He was selected as the 1st Battalion DI of the Quarter and Regimental DI of the Quarter, 3rd Qtr, FY 2008.  In October 2009, 1stSgt Redhead attended the SNCOA Career Course at Camp Pendleton, California and graduated as both the Honor Graduate and the Gung Ho Award recipient.  In December 2009, he transferred to Instructor Staff, Drill Instructor School, MCRD, San Diego, where he served as the Physical Training Instructor.

In April 2010, 1stSgt Redhead reported to Plans, Policy, and Operations Branch, Headquarter Marine Corps.  While there, he augmented to Officer Candidates School in the summers of 2010, 2011, and 2014 as a Sgt Instructor and Platoon Sergeant. In October 2014 he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant and reported to D Co, 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from October 2015 to April 2016.  He currently serves as the Acting Sergeant Major for the battalion.

 First Sergeant Redhead's personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award.