Brigadier General John E. Leatherman was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 16-69, 28 April 1969. His first duty assignment was as a Basic Training Officer at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Training Officer, Company B, 3rd Battalion, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Student Jungle School Assist 5-1, 269th Aviation Battalion, Canal Zone Vietnam; S-1, HHC 4th Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky; First Lieutenant, USAF Control Group, St. Louis, Missouri; X0, Company B 1-246 Armor Battalion, Manistee, Michigan; CO, Company B 1-246 Armor Battalion, Manistee, Michigan; S-2, HHC 1-246 Armor Battalion, Dowagiac, Michigan; S-3, HHC 1-246 Armor Battalion, Dowagiac, Michigan; XO, HHC 1-246 Armor Battalion, Dowagiac, Michigan; CO, HHC 1-246 Armor Battalion, Dowagiac, Michigan; Training Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, Lansing, Michigan; Director Intelligence Training, Headquarters State Area Command, Lansing, Michigan; Additional Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, Lansing, Michigan; Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; CO 46th Infantry Brigade, 38th Infantry Div, Wyoming, Michigan; Assistant Div CO 38th Infantry Division, Wyoming, Michigan. | General Leatherman's military education and training includes: Infantry Officers Candidate School, Jungle School, Armor Officers Advanced Course, Command and Generals Staff College, U.S. Army War College. | His military awards and decorations include: Legion Of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Amy Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/ Silver Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ Silver Hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.