Clifton was commissioned as an officer of The Salvation Army on July 5, 1973. His first appointment was to the Burnt Oak corps (London), in the British territory in July, 1973. He went briefly to continue his theological studies at international headquarters in October, 1973, before being appointed in January 1975 with his wife, Helen, to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), initially to the Mazowe Secondary School and then to Bulawayo as corps officers. On September 13, 2007 General Clifton became a Freeman of the City of London. For more, see the 'General of The Salvation Army' website.