Colonel Dennis L. Cripps was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 5-70, 6 March 1970. His first duty assignment was as Training Officer, A Company, 4th Battalion, 5th Training Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Helicopter Pilot, C Company, 158th Battalion , 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam; Helicopter Pilot, A Company, 229th Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam; Executive Officer, B Company, 2d Battalion, 4th Brigade, Fort Ord, California; Operations Officer, 155th Attack Helicopter Company, Fort Ord, California; S-2, 2d Battalion, 36th Infantry, 3d Armored Division, Kirch Goens, Federal Republic of Germany; S-4, 2d Battalion, 36th Infantry, 3d Armored Division, Kirch Goens, Federal Republic of Germany; Company Commander, CSC, 2d Battalion, 36th Infantry, 3 AD, Kirch Goens, Federal Republic of Germany; Platoon Leader, D Troop, 2d Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Fort Stewart, George; Operations Officer, 2d Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Assistant S-3, 24th Aviation Battalion, Hunter, Army Airfield, Georgia; S-3, 145th Aviation Battalion, Hunter, Army Airfield, Georgia; Company Commander, 132d Aviation Company (Chinook), Hunter, Army Airfield, Georgia; Executive Officer, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, Battle Creek, Michigan; Executive Officer, 25th Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Battalion Commander, 53rd Aviation Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, WESTCOM, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Battalion Commander, 2d Battalion, 25th Aviation, Fort Drum, New York; Brigade Commander, 4th Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado;  Deputy Commander (Support), Fort Carson, Colorado; Chief of Staff, Fort Carson, Colorado.