He began as a Company Commander in Surabaya before being appointed Deputy Secretary of the Army Territorial Staff in the same city.

He was then transferred to Yogyakarta, the center of the Indonesian National Revolution and appointed Army Staff Personnel Organizer there.

In 1960, he was Chairman of the Mass Mobilization for the Liberation of West Irian National Front before being transferred to KODAM VI/Siliwangi as its judicial officer.

The next year, in 1963, Amir graduated from the University of Military Laws and from there, he worked under ABRI Chief of Staff Abdul Haris Nasution as Deputy Secretary for Functional Affairs.

In 1969, he held a similar position in the Ministry of Defense of Security as the Assistant for Social Political Development.

Whilst Deputy Head of DPR/Vice Chairman of MPR, Amir received a Doctorate from National Chengchi University in Taipei assisted by his consultant Frank Sit in the upgradation of an amicable relation between Indonesia and Taiwan.