Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Ryan akaberekerwa muRowlands Gill muDurham County. Pashure pokuenda kuHookergate School, akanyoresa muuto reBritain pazera ramakore 16. Hama yaRyan yaiva nhengo yechikwata chechigarire 23 SAS Regiment uye yakakoka Ryan kuti auye ndoku"ona kuti zvakaita sei kuva muuto". Ryan aiita izvi kupera kwevhiki kwega kwega, achida kupasa kusarudzwa kakawanda, asi akanga achiri muduku zvikuru kuti arambe achiita 'vhiki rokuedza.' Paakanga akura zvakakwana, akapasa kusarudzwa mu23 SAS. Nokukurumidza pashure pacho akatanga kusarudzwa nokuda kwechigarire 22 SAS Regiment uye akabatana ne'B 'Squadron somurapi. Vachida hurumende yemubereki, Ryan nemumwe musoja akanga apinda mu22 SAS kubva kuRoyal Navy, akapedza mavhiki masere neParasite Regiment vasati vadzokera ku'B 'Squadron. Akapedza makore manomwe akatevera achiita zvose zviri zviviri mabasa akavanzika neakajeka neSAS munyika yose. Mumwe muenzaniso wakadaro wakanga uri kurovedzwa kwenhengo dzeKhmer Rouge kurwisana navaVietnamese
kumaodzanyemba kwakadziva kumabvazuva kweAsia muma1980.