Following graduation, Lee joined the academy's rifle team twice. He was assigned to the battleship from October 1908 to May 1909, before returning to the naval academy and re-joining the rifle team. From November 1909 until May 1910, Lee served aboard the protected cruiser , and then transferred to the gunboat . Upon being detached back to the United States, Lee re-joined the Academy shooting team a third time. In July 1913, Lee re-joined "Idaho", and in April 1914 he transferred to the battleship to participate in the occupation of Veracruz.