Colonel Frank L. Perna was commissioned an Armor Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 24 November 1951. His first duty assignment was as an Instructor, Infantry Weapons, Fort Knox, Kentucky. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader/Commanding Officer, Tank Company, 338th Infantry Regiment; Commanding Officer, High Velocity Mortar Company, 338th Infantry Regiment; Commanding Officer, Company B, 337th Regiment; Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 337th Regiment (Basic Combat Training); Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 337th Regiment (Basic Combat Training); Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 340th Infantry, 1st Brigade (Basic Combat Training); Assistant G-3, 85th Division (Training); Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, 85th Division (Training); Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, 85th Division (Training); Executive Officer, 3d Brigade (Advanced Individual Training), 85th Division (Training); Brigade Commander, 85th Communications Group (Basic Combat Training); Chief of Staff, 85th Division (Training); Director of Support, 85th Division (Meneuver Training Command); Department of the Army, Officer of the Deputy Chiefs of Staff Personnel (Department of the Army Personnel Directorate); Mobilization Designee, (U.S. Army Reserve), Director of Plans, Training and Mobilization, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Hood, Texas; Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chiefs of Staff Personnel (Individual Training); Director of Plans, Training and Mobilization, 3d Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; Department of the Army, Officer Promotion Board (0-5), Reserve Components Activities Command, St. Louis, Missouri; Special Staff Officer, Chief Army Reserve, Washington, D.C.; Training and Operations Analyst, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (MRA&L), Washington, D.C.; Army Council of Review Boards, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (MRA&L), Washington, D.C.; Program Manager/Chief Controller, Interagency Mob Exercise (Grand Payload), Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chiefs of Staff Personnel, Washington, D.C.