Philip P Bates joined The Army Apprentices College at Arborfield in July 1968 and served with 11 Field Workshop Minden BAOR before volunteering for airborne forces in 1972.He qualified as a military parachutist on 15 November 1972 and was posted to Parachute Squadron, Royal Armoured Corps.

Cfn Bates served in Cyprus and completed two tours of Northern Ireland, the second attached to 2 PARA.

Phil Bates spent five years with C Company, 5th (Shropshire and Herefordshire) Battalion The Light Infantry (Volunteers) from May 1988, and left with the rank of Lance Corporal.