Lt Col Robert TA was born on January 24, 1981 to Thoiba Angelus, a social worker and K Karaila, a government school teacher, in the village of Maram Center in Senapati district of Manipur.

He was the eldest of eight siblings. At the age of 23, Lt Col Robert joined the Indian Army in 2004 through the Technical Entry Scheme (TES) examination. He made history by becoming the first person from the Maram Naga community to serve as an officer in the Indian Army. Lt Col Robert was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers, a crucial combat support arm of the Indian Army.

In addition to his dedication to military service, Lt Col Robert was an accomplished sportsman who excelled in various sports, particularly football. During his training days, his course-mates gave him the nickname “Ronaldo,” after the famous football player. In 2008, as a captain, Lt Col Robert led his squad to victory in the prestigious Army Adventure Challenge Cup, earning him the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Commendation award. He was promoted to the rank of Lt Col in 2017, and by 2020, he had served for around 16 years in various operational areas.