Having served in the Balkans in 1995, Boag was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service, in recognition of "gallant and distinguished services in the former Republic of Yugoslavia" in 1996. Boag was promoted to lieutenant colonel in June 1997, colonel in June 2001 and to brigadier, the British Army's highest field officer rank, on 31 December 2003. Boag was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours.
