In late 1964, John H. Motley volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He sought and obtained admission to OCS and signed up for a three-year commitment. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Benning and graduated OCS 14 January 1966. His first duty assignment was 9th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Subsequent duty assignments include: Communications Officer School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Naval Amphibious School, Riverine Warfare Course, Coronado, California; Assistant to S3, 3/47th Infantry, Headquarters Bearcat, Headquarters Dong Tam, Vietnam, Mekong Delta Combat Missions, Republic of Vietnam; transfer to Signal Corps; Mobile Riverine Force Missions, Republic of Vietnam. Lieutenant Motley was honorably discharged from the Regular Army 14 January 1968 and from the Armed Forces Standby Reserves 3 April 1971.

From Southern Illinois University, Lieutenant Motley received a degree in Business Administration and minors in accounting and history. He also earned a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University School of Law and passed the Illinois Bar in 1972. His military training includes: Basic Training, Advanced Infantry Training, Fort Riley Officer Candidate School, Communications Officer School and the Naval Amphibious Riverine Warfare Course.

First Lieutenant Motley's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/6 Device and 2 Overseas Service Bars. | First Lieutenant Motley has also served many nonprofit organizations, including: Director, Amistad Center for Art and Culture, Hartford, Connecticut; Trustee, Treasurer and President, Wadsworth Antheneum Museum of Art; Chairman, Tredegar National Civil War Museum (renamed after merger, American Civil War Center); State Board, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; Trustee and Treasurer, HBCU, Tugaloo College, Jackson, Mississippi; Trustee, Treasurer, President, Achievement First Hartford Charter School; Tri-state Board (Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Achievement First Network Support; Board member, Connecticut Teach for America; among others. Mr. Motley has received numerous awards from nonprofits in Chicago, New York and Hartford.