Mark Sutcliffe MBE was educated at Sawtry Community College before joining the British Army in 1997 aged 17, enlisting into the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment The Poachers, initially joining C (Northamptonshire) Company. In 1999 he also served with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment part way through their 2-year tour of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. On return Sgt Sutcliffe was selected to join the Close Reconnaissance Platoon, over the next 9 years Sgt Sutcliffe served with the Battalion in UK, Cyprus, Jordon, Belize, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, and Iraq.