[2] He grew up on Hervey Road,[3] and attended Sleaford Secondary Modern School, where he took part in competitive cross country running, and tennis,[4][5] and competed in cross country running at Lincoln College of Technology, which he left in 1986.

[7] He undertook a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in international studies with the Open University, graduating in 2006.

[1][8] The same year, he completed a Master of Arts degree in war studies via King's College London.

[9] Smeath joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an aircraft propulsion engineer in 1987.

[10] Having attended the Royal Air Force College Cranwell,[1] he was commissioned on 21 June 1990 as a pilot officer, with seniority in that rank from 15 January 1989.