After completing the National War College in Washington, D.C., Fil was assigned to Operations Group at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. There he served as the Senior Armor Task Force Trainer, Senior Brigade Combat Team Trainer and then he served as the Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff for Fort Irwin. In 1997, Lieutenant General Fil returned to Fort Hood, Texas and commanded 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. In 1999, he returned to Germany and served as Commander, Operations Group for the United States Army Combat Maneuver Training Center at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany.