Colin Thomas Dean joined The Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Yorkshire in 1980 and transferred to The Parachute Regiment in December 1986.

He completed P Coy and parachute training (course number BPC 950) with 'Normandy' 526 Platoon. This platoon passed out 5 June 1987. Colin was then  posted to 2 PARA, D Coy,10 Platoon based at Tern Hill, Shropshire.

During his military career Sgt Dean served in Norway, Belize, Denmark, Northern Ireland, USA, Canada, Bosnia, Kosovo, Germany, Berlin, and Iraq on Operation Telic.