 Young enlisted in the British Territorial Army in 1966, being commissioned into the Scottish Division in 1970.He served in the 52nd Lowland Volunteers (now 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland) from 1970-1973, the 51st Highland Volunteers (now 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland) from 1973–89, and a central pool of staff officers from 1989-2002, assigned for much of that period to 20th Armoured Brigade.In December 1990 Young was granted a Short Service Volunteer Commission in his affiliated regiment the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), serving in the Headquarters of 1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom) throughout Operation Granby in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.