Editing Augusto Pinochet (section)

==Military Career==
Pinochet’s military career spanned nearly four decades, during which he rose through the ranks and cultivated a reputation for loyalty and discipline, though he was not initially seen as a political figure.

	1	Early Assignments (1936–1950s):
	◦	Pinochet served in various infantry regiments, including postings in Concepción and Iquique. He taught at the Military School and studied geopolitics, developing an interest in military strategy and anti-communism.
	◦	In the 1940s, he was briefly detained for suspected involvement in a pro-Nazi group, reflecting the era’s political tensions, but faced no charges.

	2	Rise Through the Ranks (1950s–1970):
	◦	By 1953, Pinochet was promoted to major and appointed professor at the War Academy, where he published works on geopolitics and military history, including Geopolitics (1968). He served in Washington, D.C., as a military attaché (1956–1959), gaining exposure to U.S. military doctrines.
	◦	He commanded regiments in the 1960s and was promoted to brigadier general in 1968, serving as chief of staff of the 6th Division in Iquique.

	3	Pre-Coup Role (1970–1973):
	◦	During Salvador Allende’s presidency (1970–1973), Pinochet maintained a low profile, earning Allende’s trust as a constitutionalist. In 1971, he was promoted to division general and commanded the Santiago garrison, a key position.
	◦	In August 1973, Allende appointed Pinochet as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army, replacing General Carlos Prats, who resigned under pressure from right-wing factions. Pinochet’s appointment was a critical miscalculation, as he was already conspiring with coup plotters.