Colonel Philip E. Courts was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 1-59, 19 December 1958. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company A, 2nd Battle Group 9th Infantry, Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Combat Support Flight Leader, 15th Aviation Company, Korea; Flight Instructor, U.S. Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Aide-de-Camp, U.S. Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Rifle Company Commander, 511th Infantry, 11th Air Assault Division, Fort Benning Georgia; Weapons Platoon Leader, 119th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam; Operations Officer, 15th Aviation Group, Germany; Secretary General Staff, 1st Aviation Brigade, Vietnam; Commander, 48th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam; Staff Officer, War Plans Division, Washington, D.C.; Executive Officer, Plans Directorate, Washington, D.C.; Chief of Assignments, Aviation Warrant Officer Military Personnel Center, Washington, D.C.; Executive Officer, Division Support Command and Commander, 9th Aviation Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington; Chairman Military Science Department, Washington State University, Pullman Washington; Area Commander, 4th Reserve Officer Training Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington; Chief of Staff, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Fort Richardson, Alaska; Chief of Staff, 4th Reserve Officer Training Corp Region, Fort Lewis, Washington.