He won his Springbok (i.e. national) colours[4] for shooting, and later joined the South African Air Force (SAAF), commencing his flying training in January 1941.

He matriculated from Maritzburg College in 1938, upon which he enrolled as a medical student at the University of the Witwatersrand until mid-1940, before joining the SAAF as a volunteer for active service in World War II, first qualifying as an air gunner.

After the war, Rogers accepted a permanent commission in the SAAF with the rank of captain, and served in various posts, including as a flight instructor and as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General of the Union.

He earned the American Distinguished Flying Cross,[5] Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Korean Order of Military Merit.

In Korea, he was awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and the South Korean Chungmu Decoration with Gold Star.