Graduating in June 1900, he then served the two years at sea as required by law at the time before being commissioned as an ensign.

On September 19, 1902, he was detached from Illinois for a short tour of duty as a watch and division on board USS Nashville (PG-7).

In the fall of 1907, Lt. Bryant returned to the Naval Academy as a navigation instructor and remained there almost three years.

In December 1917, however, he was appointed an aide on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Destroyer Flotillas Operating in European Waters.

In addition, he left these assignments temporarily in December 1922 to serve as an assistant to the naval advisor to the American delegate to the International Commission on the Rules of Warfare at the Hague in the Netherlands.

Bryant went back to the Office of Naval Communications, where he served as assistant director from December 11, 1923 to May 31, 1924.

After that, he went to sea again, commanding USS Detroit (CL-8) for two years, before starting another tour of duty on the Naval War College staff in July 1928.

Detached early in the summer of 1932, he reported for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations on July 7, 1932, as officer-in-charge of the War Plans Division.

Bryant received orders to break his flag afloat as the Commander, Battleship Division 2, Battle Force, and did so on September 4, 1934.