[4] Christer Kierkegaard passed studentexamen in Örebro in 1936 and began his military service as a cadet at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in Stockholm.

A few days after the outbreak of World War II, he graduated as an acting sub-lieutenant and was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Navy.

During his service at Malmslätt, he made two visits to Milan, Italy to take part in the repatriation of the Italian twin-engine bomber and reconnaissance aircraft Caproni Ca.313, which in Sweden came to be called B 16 and S 16.

[5] During the years 1957–1958, Kierkegaard was privileged to be the first Swede in the 20th century to undergo a command course at the Naval War College in the United States.

[3] Kierkegaard was promoted to captain in 1963 and served as of commander of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla (Första jagarflottiljen) from 1963 to 1965 when he assumed the post of vice chief of the Southern Military District (Milo S) in Kristianstad.