Colonel Barry W. Mahek was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 5-67, 20 January 1967. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company C, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry (Mechanized), 2d Brigade, 3d Armored Division. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Commander, Company C, 2d Battalion, 48th Infantry (Mechanized), Gelnhausen, Federal Republic of Germany; Battalion Advisor, Advisory Team 70, Republic of Vietnam; Tactics Instructor, United States Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky; Company Commander, Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 504th Infantry, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; G3 Air, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Battalion Operations Officer, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Infantry Advisor, Readiness Group Dix, Fort Dix, New Jersey; Battalion Executive Officer, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany; Secretary General Staff and Inspector General, United States Army Berlin, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany; Branch, Chief, Combat Arms Division, Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, Virginia; Executive Officer,  United States Army Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, Virginia; and Battalion Commander, 2d Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia; Deputy Post Commander, United States Army Infantry Center, Fort Benning, Georgia. | Colonel Mahek is a graduate of the Airborne Course, Armor Officer Career Course, Jumpmaster Course, Command and General Staff College, and Inspector General Course. | His military awards and decorations include: Bronze Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Republic of Vietnam gallantry Cross Unit Citation.