Colonel Charles M. Bechtel was commissioned an Infantry officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 37–67. His first duty assignment was as a Commander, C Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Mechanized Infantry, 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Infantry platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Special Processing Detachment Commander and Staff Officer, 1st Army Headquarters, Fort Meade, Maryland; Commander, General Support Maintenance Company; Commander, Combat Engineer Battalion; Commander, 213th Area Support Group Pennsylvania National Guard, General Staff Positions, State Headquarters Pennsylvania National Guard; Superintendent of the Combined Support Maintenance Shop, Fort Indiantown Gap; Director of Maintenance. | At the time of his induction, Colonel Bechtel was serving as the Director of Logistics for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.