Colonel Robert E. Choppa was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 3-84. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 1-17, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Personnel Officer, 3-75th, Fort Benning, Georgia; Company Commander, 3-14th, Fort Drum, New York; Battalion Commander, 5-20th, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Brigade Commander 171 IN, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Chief of Staff, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Georgia. | His military schools include; Officer Candidate School, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Canadian Land Force Staff Course, USMC Command and Staff College, Army Command and General Staff College, Joint Advanced War fighting School and Joint Staff Officer Course. He has also earned a degree in Joint Campaign Planning from the National Defense University and National Military Strategy Fellowship from Maxwell School of Government, Syracuse University. | His military awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (6 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (6 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award (2 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Cluster), Iraqi Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global Ware on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.