Ryan Cleckner, a Phoenix native, served in the United States Army as an Airborne Ranger in 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia. He served on a Ranger fire team for a couple of years until he made his transition to the 1st Ranger Battalion Sniper section. He has attended the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), Airborne School, Ranger School, EMT-I School, and he was part of the first group of Americans to ever graduate the French Alpine Instructor’s course (CIECM). Ryan completed multiple combat deployments as a Ranger Sniper and as a Sniper Team Leader.

Upon returning to Phoenix, Ryan used his GI Bill to return to school and work on his degree. He has since been active finishing up school, teaching outdoor related classes (rock climbing, backpacking, land navigation, etc.) through a local community college, running his own business creating and operating websites such as GoTakeAHike.com as well as your very own XplortheOutdoors.com, teaching at a government contracted Sniper School, and staying active outdoors.

Ryan loves backpacking! He is happiest on a mountain with a pack on his back. He has taken his military experience and his love for the outdoors and created an online community, taught many college classes, and is the co-host for this show’s Go Take A Hike segment.

You can contact Ryan through his website at RyanCleckner.com