Emile attended the Sumter Military Academy and subsequently enrolled the University of South Carolina, where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in literary in June 1899.

[1][3] Moses was then ordered to the Marine barracks at New York Navy Yard, where he remained until December of that year, when he embarked for Panama Canal Zone for guard duty following the elections of first Panamian President, Manuel Amador Guerrero.

He remained in that capacity until December 1906, when he returned to the United States for duty at Marine Barracks at Boston Navy Yard and was promoted to first lieutenant on January 1, 1908.

He was then attached to the Marine detachment aboard the armored cruiser USS Washington and took part in the patrol cruises off the East Coast of the United States and later in the Cuban waters.

[1] Moses was detached from sea duties in October 1911 and served as an instructor at the Advanced Base School at Philadelphia Navy Yard until August 1912.

[1][2] Following the suppression of the rebellion, Moses returned to the United States in November 1912 and assumed duty at Marine Barracks, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington.

Captain Moses participated with Galveston in the convoy duty between the Philippines and Guam until June 1916, when he was ordered back to the United States.

[1][2] Upon the United States declaration of War on Germany in April 1917, Moses was promoted to the temporary rank of major on May 22, and assumed duty at Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.

While there, he joined the 5th Marine Brigade under his old superior from Nicaragua, Brigadier General Joseph H. Pendleton and served with that command until November 1923, when he was ordered back to Quantico.

Moses was ordered to Chicago in October of that year and assumed command of lst District, U. S. Mail Guard during a wave of robberies.

He was stationed at Shanghai International Settlement until September 7 of that year, when he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and attached to the American Legation Guard in Peking.

Purpose of the board was to examine what was available from civilian industry that could be easily adapted to Marine Corps use, and to provide him with factual information on the efficiency and practicality of equipment being considered.

[1][2] Marine Corps over the years had conducted its landing operations using standard ships' boats, which were too slow for amphibious assaults and were vulnerable to rough seas and surf.

[1] In 1940, the Department of the Navy finally had sufficient funds to buy new landing crafts and Moses refreshed the idea of Roebling Alligator Amphibian Tractor.

He hosted several important guests, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox or Commandant of the Marine Corps, Thomas Holcomb.