Editing Robert Ballard (section)

==Military career==
Ballard joined the [[United States Army Reserve]] in 1965 through the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps|Reserve Officers Training program]]. He was commissioned as a [[Second Lieutenant|second lieutenant]] and assigned to [[Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)|army intelligence]]. When called to active duty in 1967, he asked to fulfill his obligation in the [[United States Navy]]. His request was approved, and he was transferred to the [[United States Navy Reserve|Navy Reserve]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ballard |first1=Robert D. |last2=McConnell |first2=Malcolm |date=1998 |title=Explorations: A Life of Underwater Adventure |location=New York |publisher=Hyperion |pages=23–29 |isbn=0-7868-8389-8}}</ref> After completing his active-duty obligation in 1970, he was returned to reserve status, where he remained for much of his military career, being called up only for mandatory training and special assignments. He retired from the Navy as a [[Commander (United States)|commander]] in 1995 after reaching the statutory service limit.{{citation_needed|date=August 2019}}