 Perkins enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on April 27, 1966 and was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on July 6, 1966.Upon completion of recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, he was promoted to private first class on September 22, 1966.Transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, he underwent individual combat training with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment.