Major General Phillip Kaplan was commissioned and Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 20 December 1949, class number 18. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Company C, 17th Infantry, 7th Division, Japan-Korea. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Basic Training Officer, 10th Division, Fort Riely, Kansas; Aide-de-Camp to Deputy Commandant, Army General School, Fort Riley, Kansas; Company Commander, Replacement Training Center, Camp Tortugeuro, Puerto Rico; Company Commander, Training Center, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, Asst. PMS, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Instructor, Patrolling Committee and Operations Officer, Ranger Department, Fort Benning, Georgia; Military Advisory Assistance Group, G-3 Advisor, 9th Army, Vietnam; S-3, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; XO, J-5, Plans and Policy, Headquarters, USEUCOM, Stuttgart, Germany; Brigade Commander, 2d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division; Senior Advisor, 22d ARepublic of Vietnam Division, Vietnam; Chief of Staff, Military Region II, Vietnam; Director MOS Mismatch, Special Project, Deputy Director, Military Personnel Management, ODCSPER, Department of the Army, Pentagon; Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, U.S. Army Forces Command; Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division (Mech) and Fort Riley. | His awards and decorations include: VNAF Air Service Medal, VNAF Technical Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal, First Class, Republic of Vietnam Staff Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm/Gold Star, Senior Parachutist Badge, 6 Overseas Bars, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge (2 Award), Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars, Vietnamese Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic), National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars, Army of Occupation Medal, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Silver Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster.