Durfee was commissioned into the 17th Infantry Regiment and was stationed at Fort D.A. Russell in Wyoming. He served on border duty until 1893, and he participated in the Ghost Dance War. Durfee served with distinction during the Siege of Santiago as a first lieutenant, and he received a Silver Star for his role in the Battle of El Caney. Between 1899 and 1905, Durfee went to the Philippines three times and served on several minor campaigns as well as the Third Sulu Expedition. Durfee served in several locations in the U.S., including at Fort McPherson, Fort Brady, Fort Wayne, as well as on the border with Mexico. After graduating from the United States Army War College, Durfee remained at the institution as an instructor, and in 1918 he became part of the General Staff and became Chief of Staff for the Southern Department.