Following instruction at the Marine Officers' School at Port Royal, South Carolina, he reported in January 1911, at the Marine Barracks, Guam, Mariana Islands. While attached to this station, he accompanied an expeditionary force to Chefoo, China. In October 1912, he was ordered to duty in the Philippines where he remained until detached to the United States in April 1913. Following an assignment with the Recruiting Service in Minnesota, a tour of duty at the Marine Barracks, New Orleans, Louisiana, and temporary duty at Veracruz aboard USS "Kearsarge" (BB-5) in 1915, he was ordered to sea duty aboard USS "Oklahoma" (BB-37) in May 1916 and was promoted to captain in August. In January 1917, he went aboard the USS "Montana" (ACR-13) and from 25 February to 22 March 1917, was ashore with the ship's landing force at Guantanamo, Cuba. Leaving the USS "Montana" in September 1918, he spent most of the next two years at the Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Virginia.