Michael Stonebridge is a character in the British-American television series Strike Back.
He was born in North London in 1982. Stonebridge's father was a Royal Marine killed in the Falklands War. His mother abandoned him two years later, and he had a difficult childhood, feeling out of place in his foster family, the Redmonds. Stonebridge joined the Royal Marines at the age of 18 in the year 2000. As a Royal Marine, he was initially stationed on ships and didn't see much action. In 2002, when Stonebridge was promoted to Corporal, he applied for Special Boat Service selection. However, he failed selection - which is common on the first effort as it is among the most selective in the world. In the course of SBS selection process, Stonebridge was trained in extreme weather conditions and underwent navigation training. In 2003, he participated in Operation Telic in Iraq. Stonebridge was a part of the first wave landing force in the country.
In 2004, he finally passed the SBS selection process. Stonebridge then returned to Iraq, where worked in counter-insurgency as part of Task Force Black. He also served two tours in Afghanistan. There, he participated in anti-Taliban attacks across the Pakistan border. From 2005 to 2007, Stonebridge served in Iraq again. There, he oversaw large scale joint US-UK operations in Fallujah and commanded a special forces unit in the hunt for Al Qaeda operatives. A first rate soldier, Stonebridge was well-liked by his fellow soldiers. Trying twice as hard when faced with adversity, he proved to be a natural leader. During that time, Stonebridge was promoted to Sergeant. At some point, he married his girlfriend, Kerry Edwards. In 2010, Stonebridge was personally requested by Colonel Eleanor Grant to join Section 20, an elite anti-terrorist tactical operations intelligence unit within the British government that focuses on high-risk, top-priority targets.
A clear-thinking and reliable soldier, he brings strategic clout to Section 20. Stonebridge is a focused, intense, and experienced professional with unparalleled field discipline. He and his wife Kerry are the picture of a perfect couple, but there's more going on in his family life than meets the eye. Kerry is very family-oriented, but Stonebridge's eye has been known to wander, even in the field. The challenges of military life and a difficulty conceiving are taking a toll on their marriage. Numerous emotional stresses may be beginning to crack Stonebridge's sharp military focus and it is unclear how long he will remain in the field.