[2] Cave served as commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, the Mercian Regiment and in that capacity saw action in the Iraq War in 2008,[3] for which he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service.

[4] He went on to be Commander, Initial Training Group in February 2011, Director of Training, Field Army in February 2014 and Deputy Chief of Staff (Plans), Joint Force Command Naples in July 2015.

[9][10] He was Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps until October 2024.

[11] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2020 New Year Honours.

[12] In the 2024 King's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).