Colonel Ronald M. Buffkin was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 70-02, 14 April 1979. His first duty assignment was as Aeroscout  Section Leader, Alpha Company, 501st Aviation Battalion (Combat), 1st Armored Division, Katterbach, Federal Republic of Germany. | His subsequent assignments include: Platoon Leader, Bravo Company (Attack), 501st Aviation Battalion (Combat), Katterbach, Germany; Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 501st Aviation Battalion (Combat), Katterbach; Platoon Leader, Task Force 160, 1st Special Operations Command, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; S3, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Company Commander, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant S-3, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Plans Officer, Army-Air Force Center for Low Intensity Conflict, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Operations Officer, Flight Concepts Division, Fort Eustis, Virginia, Battalion Commander, 3rd Squadron, 6th Calvary, 6th Calvary Brigade (Air Combat), Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea; Deputy Brigade Commander, 6th Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat), Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea; Director, Flight Concepts Division, Fort Eustis, Virginia; Brigade Commander, 6th Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat), Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea; Brigade Commander, 6th Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat), Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea.