ɡˈeɪts sˈɜːvd ɪn nˈuːmɚɹəs nˈɑːŋkəmˈɪʃənd ˈɑːfɪsɚ lˈiːdɚʃˌɪp pəzˈɪʃənz, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ æz fˈɜːst kˈɑːmɐndˌɑːnt ʌvðə twˈɛnti fˈoːɹθ ˈɪnfəntɹi dᵻvˈɪʒən ˌɛnsˌiːˈoʊ ɐkˈædəmi æt fˈɔːɹt stˈuːɚt, dʒˈɔːɹdʒə.
Gates served in numerous non-commissioned officer leadership positions, including as first Commandant of the 24th Infantry Division NCO Academy at Fort Stewart, Georgia.