In 1975, he was assigned as a Firing Platoon Leader, 2d Battalion, 71st Air Defense Artillery, Eighth United States Army in Korea.

In 1981 and 1982, General Dodgen commanded Battery A, and served as the Assistant S-3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 61st Air Defense Artillery, 3d Armored Division in Germany.

In 1984, he was assigned to the United States Army Chemical School, Fort McClellan, Alabama, as an NBC Analyst and later became Chief of the Studies Branch.

In 1993, he graduated from the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, and returned to Germany, where he became the Commander, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

While stationed in Germany, he also became the Chief of the CINC's Initiatives Group, Office of the Command-in-Chief, United States Army Europe.