In August 1947, Shoup became commanding officer, Service Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
In June 1949, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton as its chief of staff.
In July 1950, he was transferred to Quantico where he served as commanding officer of the Basic School.

In April 1952, Shoup became Assistant Fiscal Director in the Office of the Fiscal Director, Headquarters Marine Corps.
In this capacity, Shoup served under Major General William P. T. Hill, the Quartermaster General.
Shoup was ordered by the Marine Corps Commandant General Lemuel C. Shepherd to establish a new fiscal office independent of Hill's authority.
Shoup and Hill clashed frequently, but Shoup was nonetheless able to establish a new, independent Fiscal Division.
He was promoted to brigadier general in April 1953, and in July he became Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps.
He was involved in fiscal strategy hearings before the U.S. Congress, and established a programming system where officers researched and thought out programs before bringing them to Congress.
This idea met with resistance from Marine leaders who favored going to the Hill to figure out the details of programs.
While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to major general in September 1955.

Shoup began a brief assignment as inspector general for recruit training in May 1956 after being ordered to do so by Commandant Randolph M. Pate following the Ribbon Creek incident, which involved the accidental drowning of six recruits during a training march.
As Marine leaders were investigating, they favored Shoup's recommendation of not covering up the incident.
He supported an overhaul of recruit training for the Marine Corps in response.

Following this, he served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps from September 1956 until May 1957.
He returned to Camp Pendleton in June to become commanding general of the 1st Marine Division.
He became commanding general of the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa in March 1958.
Following his return to the United States in May 1959, he served as commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, until October 1959.
During this time, he also served as president of the 2nd Marine Division Association.
In August 1947, Shoup became commanding officer, Service Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. In June 1949, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton as its chief of staff. In July 1950, he was transferred to Quantico where he served as commanding officer of the Basic School.
In April 1952, Shoup became Assistant Fiscal Director in the Office of the Fiscal Director, Headquarters Marine Corps. In this capacity, Shoup served under Major General William P. T. Hill, the Quartermaster General. Shoup was ordered by the Marine Corps Commandant General Lemuel C. Shepherd to establish a new fiscal office independent of Hill's authority. Shoup and Hill clashed frequently, but Shoup was nonetheless able to establish a new, independent Fiscal Division. He was promoted to brigadier general in April 1953, and in July he became Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps. He was involved in fiscal strategy hearings before the U.S. Congress, and established a programming system where officers researched and thought out programs before bringing them to Congress. This idea met with resistance from Marine leaders who favored going to the Hill to figure out the details of programs. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to major general in September 1955.
Shoup began a brief assignment as inspector general for recruit training in May 1956 after being ordered to do so by Commandant Randolph M. Pate following the Ribbon Creek incident, which involved the accidental drowning of six recruits during a training march. As Marine leaders were investigating, they favored Shoup's recommendation of not covering up the incident. He supported an overhaul of recruit training for the Marine Corps in response.
Following this, he served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps from September 1956 until May 1957. He returned to Camp Pendleton in June to become commanding general of the 1st Marine Division. He became commanding general of the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa in March 1958. Following his return to the United States in May 1959, he served as commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, until October 1959. During this time, he also served as president of the 2nd Marine Division Association.
David M. Shoup