After completing his recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Anderson received individual combat training with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiments, Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton, California.

Once he completed all his training he was promoted to Private First-Class and was promoted again a year later to Lance Corporal after serving as the Assistant Fire Team Leader with Company E during the Vietnam War.