haig graduated from west point in 1975 and was commissioned an infantry lieutenant. he served as a platoon leader in germany, three years as an infantry company commander at fort carson, colorado, before he was selected as an intern at the organization of the joint chiefs of staff, where he worked in the current operations directorate on the lebanon peacekeeping operation. after graduating from harvard with a master's degree and a specialty in military strategy, he worked for three years as a global strategist on the army staff, where he was responsible for helping formulate the regional war plan for southwest asia and the global war plans against the soviet union. he spent three years as the special assistant to the commander-in-chief of the united nations command and combined forces command in seoul. haig ended his military career as the special assistant to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff – john m. shalikashvili, where his duties lay with the preparation of all speeches, briefings, public statements, and congressional testimonies. he retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel in 1997.