Caron became a company commander in the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment in Quebec in August 1982 and then became a student at the Canadian Forces Staff College in Toronto, Ontario in 1984. He joined the Project Management Office, Anti-Armour Projects at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ), in Ottawa in June 1985 before becoming Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment in Quebec in 1988. He was appointed head of operations staff in the Land Force Command Headquarters in July 1990 before becoming a student at the U.S. Army War College in 1994. He was made Director Force Concepts and Director Land Requirements at NDHQ in July 1994 and then Chief of Staff of the Kosovo Verification Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in November 1998.