Colonel (later Lieutenant General) John R. McGiffert was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, 20 May 1947, class number 4. His first duty assignment was as Battery Officer, 2d FA Bn, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Battery Officer, Battalion Staff Officer, 96th FA Bn, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Battery Officer, 517th FA Bn, Germany;  Battalion Staff Officer, 517th FA Bn, Germany; Battery Commander, 517th FA Bn, Germany; Student, Officers Advanced Course, The Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Instructor Dept of Tactics and Combined Arms, The Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Battery Commander, 86th FA Btry, 2d Bn Combat Team, Keflavik, Iceland; Combat Team Asst S-3 and S-3, 2d Bn Combat Team, Keflavik, Iceland; Student, CGSC, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Staff Officer, Material Developments Section, Headquarters USCONARC, Fort Monroe, Virginia; Student, AFSC, Norfolk, Virginia; Staff Officer, ODCSOPS, Headquarters D/A, Washington, D.C.; Staff Officer, OACSFOR, Headquarters D/A, Washington D.C.; Battalion Commander, 7th Bn, 16th Arty, 8th Inf Div, Germany;  Executive Officer, Pers & Admin Div, Headquarters USAREUR, Germany; Advisor, Dep Sr Adv 25th ARepublic of Vietnam Div, Vietnam; Battalion Commander, 8th Bn, 6th Arty, 1st Inf Div, Vietnam; Executive Officer, Headquarters 1st Inf Div Arty, Vietnam; Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.; Instructor National War College, Washington, D.C. | His awards and decorations include: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star; Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster;  Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.