Colonel James M. West was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 28 May 1966. His first duty assignment was as a Platoon Leader, Company A, 1st Battalion, 142d Infantry, Texas Army National Guard, Coleman, Texas. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Liaison Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 143d Infantry, (Airborne), Waco, Texas; Heavy Motor Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 112th Armor, Coleman, Texas; Transportation Section Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 112th Armor, Brownwood, Texas; Assistant G-4, Headquarters, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas; Communications and Electronics Officer, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 112th Armor, Dallas, Texas; S-1, Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 112th Armor, Dallas, Texas; Command Logistics Officer, Headquarters, 49th Division Support Command, Austin Texas, Maintenance Management Officer, Headquarters State Area Command (STARC), Austin, Texas; Battalion Commander, 7th Battalion, l12th Armor, Bryan, Texas; Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, Headquarters, 49th Armored Division, Austin, Texas; Comptroller, Headquarters, State Area Command, Texas Army National Guard, Austin, Texas.