 He was selected to attend Amphibious Warfare School in 1979 and following its completion in 1980, reported to 2nd Marine Division.Assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, he commanded H&S Company and served on the Battalion S-4 staff as Maintenance Management Officer before leaving the active component in 1982.As a Reserve officer, Wilson served on the Maintenance Battalion staff in Charlotte, North Carolina before taking command of the Communications Company in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1985.