He participated in the patrolling against Caicos bandits until September 1929, when he was ordered back to the United States and attached to the Marine Corps Base San Diego. By the end of June 1930, Benner was ordered to Hawaii, where he was assigned to the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. He was promoted to First lieutenant on September 1, 1931, and embarked with 2nd Brigade of Marines to Nicaragua.