(July 2, 1962) Entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York as a plebe, or first year cadet.
(August 1968) Completed his Rhodes Scholarship year after working in the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program, while completing his degree at Magdalen College, University of Oxford.
(1968 - 1969) Spent three months after graduation from Oxford University at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in the Armor Officer Basic Course, proceeding then to Ranger School at Fort Benning.
(1969) Promoted to captain and assigned as commander of 'A' Company, 4th Battalion, 68th Armor, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA.
(May 21, 1969) Flew to Vietnam as an officer in 1st Infantry Division.
(January 1970) Appointed to command of A Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division.
(1971 to 1974) Instructor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point.