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 throughout Operation Granby in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.
He was the originator of a plan to take local staff of any ethnicity, such as interpreters, to their nominated places of safety in the event of the Mission's withdrawal to Macedonia.
Before retiring from the reserve forces in 2002, Young served a final tour with KFOR as a senior liaison officer to the Kosovo Protection Corps.
Young is the author of "Silence in the Ranks", an analysis of difficulties encountered by members of the British Armed Forces and their families in participating in the UK General Election of 2005, with recommendations which were largely reflected in the Electoral Administration Act 2006.
Young was one of the founders of the British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF) in late 2006, and was a frequent spokesperson on behalf of that organisation.