 He was promoted to full lieutenant in November 1975, was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1980 for service in Northern Ireland the previous year, and promoted captain in May 1980.He attended the Army Staff Course in 1986 prior to promotion to major in October the same year.Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1991, he was subsequently appointed commanding officer of the Second Battalion the Royal Green Jackets from 1994 to 1995 before promotion to colonel in 1996, having attended the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley.