 In September 1967, just 11 years after joining the navy, he was selected as a chief petty officer.Upon completion of a tour aboard , which included an extended ten-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea, he served as an instructor at Radioman "B" school in Bainbridge, Maryland.Plackett was selected for the associate degree Completion Program in April 1971 and was advanced to senior chief petty officer while attending classes at Pensacola Junior College.