Educated at a College in Saint-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Chouinard was commissioned into Royal 22e Régiment in 1941.

[1] He was then made commander of CFB Valcartier and of the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in 1970.

[2] In 1971 he took command of the 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Lahr in Germany.

In 1973 he became Assistant to the Associate Deputy Minister (Policy) at National Defence Headquarters.

[1] In retirement he became international marketing manager and then president of Industries Valcartier, a munitions business.