He enrolled in the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, graduating in 1946.

Tallman earned his pilot wings in the United States Army Air Forces at Stewart Field, New York in 1946, and then served in a succession of fighter unit assignments, including aircraft carrier duty with the Navy.

Three years later he was transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe as an operations staff officer.

Returning from Europe in 1962, he entered the Marine Corps Senior Staff School, Quantico, Virginia, completing it a year later.

[6] This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force