Military Bio.
Rob Riggle joined the United States Marine Corps in 1990 at the age of 19. After graduating from the University of Kansas, and successfully completing Officer Candidate School, he accepted his commission and became a Second Lieutenant in 1992.
Rob had a guaranteed flight contract with the Marines. He had earned his pilot’s license while he was at the University of Kansas. Upon completion of The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, 2nd Lt. Riggle went to Pensacola, Florida and then to Corpus Christi, Texas for flight school. Just months away from receiving his “wings” Rob decided he had another calling besides flying. That calling was comedy. WTF?!…or Whiskey Tango Foxtrot as they say in the Marines.
Rob left flight school so he could fulfill his ground contract with the Marines prior to pursuing his comedy dream. Based on his college records the Marines decided to make him a Public Affairs Officer. Rob then attended Defense Information School. Upon graduation, 1st Lt. Riggle was assigned to the 2nd Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina. While stationed there, he was deployed with the 3rd battalion, 8th Marine Regiment on a Special-Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to Liberia, Africa. (Operation Assured Response & Quick Response)
From North Carolina, Captain Riggle accepted an extension on active duty and was assigned to be the Deputy Director Public Affairs, New York City. While assigned to the New York office, Capt. Riggle was deployed again to Albania (Joint Task Force Shining Hope). From there he was attached briefly to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (24th MEU SOC) and went to Kosovo as part of Operation Joint Guardian.
Capt. Riggle left active duty in the summer of 2000 and immediately joined the Marine Corps Reserves. In the fall of 2001 Capt. Riggle was in New York City. His reserve unit, MTU-17, stationed in Manhattan, were among the first military responders to the attacks on the World Trade Centers. Capt. Riggle was activated from Sept. 12th through the 30th, 2001, where he worked at ground zero moving rubble by hand in the bucket brigades. On November 10th (the Marine Corps birthday) Capt. Riggle received orders back to active duty for one year. He was assigned to Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, Florida.
Capt. Riggle reported for duty at CENTCOM on Nov. 17th. He left for Afghanistan on Nov. 30th. He was assigned to work with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group in Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan. Upon returning from Afghanistan in February of 2002, Capt. Riggle worked in the Joint Operations Center at CENTCOM, until he redeployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2002 to help support an investigation board there.
Upon the successful completion of his year long tour. Major Riggle returned to New York and continued to pursue comedy. Two years after his return in the fall of 2004, Major Riggle became a cast member on Saturday Night Live… one of his life long dreams. Major Riggle is still a member of the Marine Corps Reserves today. He has served 19 years total, 9 years active duty, 10 years in the reserves. In April of 2009 Major Riggle was selected for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He will officially "pin on" the rank June 1st, 2009.
His awards include: Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal x 2, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal x 2, National Defense Service Medal x 2, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation x 2, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal x 2 and the NATO Medal.
Semper Fidelis!
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