 Ayala spent the initial years of his Marine Corps career in Okinawa, Japan, first serving at Camp Butler, and later at Camp McTureous.In 1983, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, serving three years with the 1st Marine Division and three years with the 1st Force Service Support Group.In 1990, Ayala was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas, where he was assigned to the new Joint Task Force 6 for Counter Drug Operations.