Captain Al Markwick grew up in Berkshire and attended Haileybury and The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe, before reading International Studies at the University of Birmingham.  He commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in April 2004 and was posted to 47 Regiment Royal Artillery on Thorney Island.  Employed as Troop Commander of a Close Air Defence Troop, he provided Air Defence to the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Battlegroup, supporting them in BATUS Canada.  In the Gunners' secondary role as Infantry soldiers, he deployed to Cyprus as a Platoon Commander with the Mobile Force Reserve, part of the United Nation Forces. 

He commanded a multinational platoon of soldiers from the UK, Argentina, Hungary and Slovakia in a security and peacekeeping mission.  He was Regimental Sailing Officer, representing the Gunners and the Army in Offshore sailing.  He is also a keen snowboarder.

He was posted to the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in September 2007 and completed the Advanced Military Equitation Course in July 2008, after which he took post as Centre Section Commander.