In 1888 he began attendance at the United States Military Academy (West Point); he graduated in 1892 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry.

In April 1916, Woodward was assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment in El Paso, Texas, and he served on the Mexico–United States border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.

In May 1917, Woodward promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to duty in the office of the Adjutant General of the United States Army.

From 1919 to 1920 he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and he was promoted to permanent colonel in July 1920.

[2] A. T. Woodward was a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War who served as police chief of the village of Rutland, Vermont.

[4] In July 1887, Woodward passed a qualifying exam to be considered for appointment to the United States Military Academy.

[7] He served at Fort Douglas from September 1892 to November 1893, when he was assigned to the School of Torpedo Instruction[a] at Willets Point, Queens, New York.

[7] He served in Cuba in the summer of 1898, including participation in the Battle of San Juan Hill and Siege of Santiago.

[7] He became the regimental quartermaster at the end of the month, and traveled with the unit to Camp Wikoff, New York, for post-war reorganization.

[7] From January to May 1899, the 16th Infantry was stationed at Fort Crook, Nebraska, and Woodward was assigned as regimental commissary officer in May.

[8] His other additional duties included chief commissary, 2nd District, Department of Northern Luzon (January 1900 to April 1901).

[8] From September 1912 to February 1914, Woodward served as aide-de-camp to Major General Thomas Henry Barry, commander of the Department of the East.

In February 1915, Woodward received promotion to major in the 24th Infantry Regiment and, from March to September 1915, he commanded Camp Eldridge in the Laguna province.

[8] In September 1915, Woodward transferred to the 15th Infantry Regiment in Tianjin, China, and he subsequently commanded the U.S. Army garrison at Dongshan.

[8] In May 1917, a month after the American entry into World War I, Woodward was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to staff duty in the Washington, D.C. office of the Adjutant General of the United States Army.

[8] From December 1917 to April 1918, Woodward commanded the 113th Infantry Regiment during its organization and training at Camp McClellan, Alabama.

[10] He was a student at the United States Army Command and General Staff College from August 1919 until graduating in June 1920.