Completed basic and AIT training in Ft. Knox then station on FT. Riley KS. as a Pvt E-1 as a loader on a M-60 A2 Combat Tank. During my tour in Fort Riley I did training in Fort Irwin California. 

After 4 months I moved into the gunners position and remained there for 6 months, 16 months into my tour I was promoted to corporal for 2 months and was changed to acting sergeant and became a Tank commander. Qualified 3 times as a gunner, distinguished 4 times as a Tank Commander early 1981 I was promoted to active sergeant E-5 I remained in fort riley until 1982 when i reenlisted and reassigned in Fort Carson, Colorado. I remained as a senior gunner and tank commander. While stationed at Fort Carson I qualified once and was distinguished as a tank commander. In Fort Carson I did two tours in Fort Irwin, California at 8 months into my tour at Fort Carson, I was reassigned to 11th armored cav regiment in Bad Herzfeld, Germany as part of east and west Germany border unit. In early 1983 departed for Germany as senior gunner and tank commander. I was assigned to M company 3/11 ACR and I did numerous border patrols by jeep and foot. While there I was assigned to border operations. While at OP border camp my duties were to position my tank and crew to the furthest forward position located in the 50 meter zone of the border. In my 3.5 years with 11th ACR, I did numerous tank qualifications prior to leaving 11 ACR my last qualification I was able to shoot and be named Top Gun of the regiment. In 1986 left Germany relocated to Fort Stewart where I was assigned to the armor company as a tank commander while at Fort Stewart did two tours at Fort Irwin, California. During this time my unit was deployed to Turkey for a show of force for two months. Upon returning from Turkey I ended my time of service 8/15/89. 

During my time in service I received the following awards and ribbons.

• Army service ribbon 
• Army overseas ribbon
• Three good conduct medals
• 2 non commissioned officers school ribbons
• 3 army achievement medals
• 1 army accommodation medal
• Expert badge pistol
• Expert badge M16 rifle
• Held MOS of 19 echo, 19 echo 20 on M60A2 and M60A3
• 19K20 as M1 Abrams crewman