Captain Rick Cleland entered the Marine Corps through OCS and is a member of the "38th OCC-TBS-3/66" (38th Officer Candidate Course - The Basic School of March 1966). He was assigned to the Second Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, NC for on-the-job training for the MOS of 6708 - Air Support Control, after Staging Battalion and Jungle Warfare School at Camp Pendleton, CA (where he was promoted to 1st Lt). In April 1967, he was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam with the First Marine Air Wing with MASS-3 (Marine Air Support Squadron - 3) at Chu Lai for work in the Direct Air Support Center as Senior Air Director. He assigned missions and designated weapons to be carried on aircraft (helos, multi-engine, and jet aircraft) of the Marine Corps, Navy, U.S. Air Force, British, French, and Australian Air Forces. In December 1967, he was promoted to Captain and became Commanding Officer of the Chu Lai Unit while Detachment One went to support Khe Sanh. He returned to CONUS with 2nd Marine Air Wing, Cherry Point, NC as Executive Officer of Marine Wing Facilities Squadron - 2. After RELACDU (release from active duty) from Cherry Point NC, he joined the Active Reserves with 2/25 as Assistant. S-3 (Air). He then served as Assistant G-3 (Air) with the 20th Staff Group at Norfolk, VA where he did his final tour as assistant G-3 (Air) to the Command General (LtGen) Fleet Marine Force - Atlantic.