Colonel Longgrear was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 8-66, 26 May 1966. His first duty assignment was as Tactical Officer, 52nd Company (Officer Candidate School), 5th Battalion, Student Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Project Officer, 7th Special Forces Group; Advisor, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam; Commander, Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, United States Army Training Center, Fort Benning, Georgia; Executive Officer, 5/46 Infantry, 198th Brigade, Republic of Vietnam; Commander, Alpha Company, 5/46 Infantry, 198th Brigade, Republic of Vietnam; S-3 Plans Officer, 198th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Instructor, Florida Southern College, 3rd ROTC Region, Lakeland, Florida; Public Affairs Officer, 3rd Infantry Division, APO New York 09036; Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry, St. Louis, Missouri; Personnel Officer, 4th (Engineer) Brigade, St. Louis, Missouri; Operations Officer, Army Forces, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Operations Officer, 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, St. Louis, Missouri; Operations Officer, 3rd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, St. Louis, Missouri; FORSCOM Action Agent, Bold Eagle 82; Operations Officer, 2nd Brigade, 34th Infantry; Intelligence Officer, 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, St. Louis, Missouri; Operations Officer, 82nd Airborne Division; Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry; Instructor, 329th USARE; Regional Emergency Management Coordinator; Control Group. | Colonel Longgrear's awards and decorations include: Silver Star, Bronze Star “V” w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Ribbon, Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge. | Following his retirement, Colonel Longgrear was owner of Unishippers of Middle Georgia, Pine Mountain, Georgia.