Colonel Clarence A. Shelton III was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate school, 26 June 1967. His first duty assignment was as the Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry, Baumholder, Germany. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Battalion Motor Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry, Baumholder, Germany; Platoon Leader, Company C, 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry, Baumholder, Germany; Assistant Battalion Advisor, Reconnaissance Company Advisor, Battalion Advisor, Assistant Division G3, Team 5, MACV, Vietnam; Commanding Officer, Company B, 4th Basic Training Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Assistant S-3, 1st Training Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Commanding Officer, Company D, 4th Basic Training Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Executive Officer, 4th Training Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Reconnaissance Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1140th Engineer Group, Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Plans/Training Officer, Battalion Controller, RAOC Controller, Engineer Exercise Group 2, 87th United States Army Maneuver Area Command,  Birmingham, Alabama; Assistant Intelligence Controller, 87th United States Army Maneuver Area Command, Birmingham, Alabama; Assistant Intelligence Controller, Intelligence/Operations Controller, Chief, Operations/Plans, Engineer Exercise Group 2, 87th United States Army Maneuver Area Command, Birmingham, Alabama; Team Chief, Support Exercise Group B, Support Exercise Division, 87th United States Army Maneuver Area Command, Birmingham, Alabama; Branch Chief, Combat Support Branch, 1st Brigade, 87th Division (Exercise), Birmingham, Alabama; Branch Chief, Combat Support Branch, 2d Simulations Exercise Group, 1st Brigade, 87th Division (Exercise).