Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Franks was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. He graduated from Santa Fe Unit School, Santa Fe, Tennessee in 2006. Upon graduation he attended Columbia State Community College’s EMT-IV program and Tennessee Fire Code and Enforcement Academy. After four years of service as a firefighter and EMT he enlisted in the Army. Franks completed Infantry OSUT in February 2012. Upon graduation from basic training, he attended Airborne School and was assigned to A Co. 1-505PIR 3BCT 82nd ABN DIV in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From July 2012 to January 2015, Franks served in every position within an infantry fire team from rifleman to team leader and squad leader. In January 2015, Franks was assigned to the United States Army Marksmanship Unit, Fort Benning, Georgia. Within his first year on the Service Pistol Team, he earned his black hat, distinguished pistol shot badge and won the President’s Hundred Match during Camp Perry Nationals and was awarded the Military Marksmanship Association New Shooter of the Year Award.
Franks graduated from Airborne School, Combat Life Saver, XVIII Airborne Corps Dragon First Responder, Combatives Training Course (lv1), Javelin Gunners Training Course, Joint Capabilities Release Operators Course, Bus Driver School, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leadership Course, Maneuver Senior Leaders Course, Hazardous Material Site Management Course and SHARP Foundations.
His awards include Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, five Army Commendation Awards, seven Army Achievement Medal, three Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, three Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon, President’s Hundred Tab, Army Interservice Competition Badge and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge.
Competitive Shooting Awards
2022 NRA ACTION PISTOL NATIONAL RECORD SPEED LOAD CHALLENGE
2022 NRA PRELIMINARY MATCH WINNER
2022 CMP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 3RD PLACE
2022 MILITARY POLICE CORPS TROPHY WINNER
2022 GENERAL MELON TROPHY WINNER
2022 GENERAL PATTON TROPHY WINNER
2022 INTERSERVICE PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIP 2ND PLACE
2022 KEYSTONE CUP METALLIC SIGHT CHAMPION
2022 WYOMING STATE METALLIC SIGHT CHAMPION
2022 BIANCHI CUP METALLIC SIGHT CHAMPION
2022 FLAGGER CUP METALLIC SIGHT CHAMPION
2022 CRAWFISH CUP METALLIC SIGHT CHAMPION
2021 NRA BULLSEYE NATIONAL'S 3RD PLACE
2021 MELIGH CUP HIGH SHOOTER
2021 CMP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 3RD PLACE
2021 MILITARY POLICE CORPS TROPHY WINNER
2021 GENERAL MELON TROPHY WINNER
2021 GENERAL PATTON TROPHY WINNER
2021 PRESIDENT’S HUNDERED CHAMPION
2021 INTERSERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP 3RD PLACE
2021, METALLIC SIGHT BIANCHI CUP 2ND PLACE
2020, METALLIC SIGHT WHYOMING STATE CHAMPION
2019, METALLIC SIGHT TRIPLE CROWN 2ND PLACE
2019, METALLIC SIGHT CAMERON CUP CHAMPION
2019, METALLIC SIGHT CRAWFISH CUP CHAMPION
2018, MEMBER OF 2650 CLUB, NRA CONVENTONAL PISTOL
2018, TENNESSEE STATE NRA CONVENTIONAL PISTOL CHAMPION
2017, METALLIC SIGHT WYOMING STATE CHAMPION
2017, FIRING MEMBER OF WINNING NATIONAL 2-MAN TEAM MATCH
2017, NATIONAL EIC MATCH WINNER, CAMP PERRY
2017, DISTINGUISHED ACTION PISTOL BADGE
2017, PRODUCTION DIVISION 3RD PLACE ACTION PISTOL NATIONALS
2016, MILITARY MARKSMANSHIP ASSOCIACION NEW SHOOTER OF THE YEAR
2016, .22 CALIBER DISTINGUISHED BADGE
2016, WINNER OF THE GENERAL PATTON TROPHY CAMP PERRY
2016, SERVICE PISTOL INTERSERVICE CHAMPION
2015, PRESIDENT’S HUNDRED MATCH WINNER
2015, DISTINGUISHED NRA CONVENTIONAL PISTOL BADGE
2015, HIGH NON-DISTINGUISHED SHOOTER NATIONAL TROPHY INDIVIUAL MATCH
2015, INTERSERVICE HIGH NON-DISTINGUISHED SHOOTER
MEMBER, 2016, 2019 CENTER FIRE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
MEMBER, 2019 .45-CAL PISTOL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
MEMBER, 2015, 2018 SERVICE PISTOL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
MEMBER, 2018, 2019 OVERALL INTERSERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM