Colonel Ralph Burr Kelly was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School on 12 November 1967. His first duty assignment was as Assistant S-3 Air, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Infantry Platoon Leader, 82nd Airborne Division, Vietnam;  Training Officer, 1st Bde, (BCT), Fort Bragg, North Carolina;  Pathfinder Section Leader, 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam;  Commander A-343, 5th SFga, Vietnam;  Battalion S-3, 5th SFga, Vietnam;  Commander A234/S-4, 12 SFga, USAR;  Bde S-2/3, 70th Division (Training) USAR; Battalion Motor/ Commo Officer, Michigan-ARNG;  OCS Training Officer, Military Academy, Michigan-ARNG;  Organizational Effectiveness Officer, National Guard Bureau;  Staff Action Officer, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff Research Development and Aquisition;  Project Budget Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary Army (Financial Manager); and IG Team Chief, Office of the U.S. Army Inspector General; and Active Guard Reserve tour as the ARNG Advisor to the Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, California. | Military schools attended include: U.S. Naval War College, Command and General Staff College, National Security Management Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Artillery Advanced Course, Officer Candidate School-Infantry, Air War College, Special Forces Courses, Pathfinder School, Jumpmaster School, Airborne School, and Quality Circle Management Course. | His military awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal,  USAR Commendation Medal, USAR Service Medal, Michigan Commendation Medal, Michigan Service Medal, Tennessee Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachute Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Vietnam Parachute Badge, and Vietnam Cross of gallantry w/ Palm.