During his more than 37 year career, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rufus Montgomery, Sr., held a variety of positions beginning in April 1966 as a combat infantryman and cook with Company C, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.  

Following a variety of food service assignments with ever-increasing responsibilities, in 1977 he was appointed as a Warrant Officer and assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany.  He served as a Food Technical Advisor with the Food Engineering Laboratory, Natick, the Division Food Service Advisor, 1st Armored Division, Group Food Service Advisor, 36th Engineer Group, and the Quartermaster Warrant Officer Career Manager, Personnel Command.  

His last active duty assignment was Chief Warrant Officer Personnel Proponency Officer, Combined Arms Support Command.