Ryan's Return To Duty MTV Interview

As part of their presentation of their Veterans' Day special Return to Duty, MTV put video clips on their website of a related recent interview they did with Ryan Conklin. In the interview, Ryan speaks about the show, his redeployment to Iraq, and his plans for the future.

Concerning what was shown of his family, Ryan said he saw a side of them he hadn't seen before. It was an opportunity to hear them say some heartfelt things about him that he may not have heard directly from them prior to this. What they said caused him to tear up. He had expected that that would happen and that is why he had to watch the show by himself the first time he saw it.

Ryan remarked that when he left his family at the airport, he deliberately put on a good front to try to keep people from crying. He acted like everything was going to be okay. He would be going away for a little while but he would be back soon and everything would be fine.

To himself, as he prepared to return to Iraq, he thought about what kind of Iraq he would be facing. When he left Iraq in 2006, it was when The Surge was starting. Casualties were at all time high. Ryan didn't know what was going on in Iraq after that. He said he didn't watch coverage of the war on the news. "I didn't watch anything on the news, because I didn't want to, because I figured that chapter was over. I just don't want to hear it. It doesn't pertain to me. Whatever."

So when he got his notice in 2008, he didn't know if things were going to be same as when he left or possibly even worse. Ryan thought he might be going back to a situation that was just like what he had left.

Fortunately, Ryan sees Iraq as being a safer place than it was before. He doesn't have the same gut feeling that it is only a matter of time before someone in his unit gets hit. He attributes some of that to the Iraqi army and police being better at what they do. He also believes that the Iraqi people are more likely to report things and work towards a more peaceful society. When he was there the first time, Ryan despaired that what he saw was never ending and that there was no hope in sight. Now to him it looks like things are better and will continue to be that way. For Ryan this helps bring a sense of closure to how negatively he felt from the first deployment.

While he is in Iraq, Ryan said he is more serious that when he is at home. He's on the job and that's the way he is when doing a job. He says that once he is off this job he will go back to being his usual crazy self. Until then, he feels like a prisoner in Iraq, just waiting for his time to expire.

Concerning those that are close to him, Ryan spoke about the difference between those he refers to as friends versus those he calls buddies. Friends are what he has at home. The people he is close to in the Army are his buddies. A big distinction between the two for him is that he and his buddies are trying every day to stay alive and keep each other alive. When he is with friends, they are just hanging out and doing stuff like going to the movies. Though he see the two groups differently, he appreciates and values both of them.

As an infantryman, Ryan and his fellow soldiers load up on humvees and go out on patrol or walk around on foot. Sometimes the Iraqis ask for help in doing searches or raids and Ryan's group tries to help them. It used to be that Ryan would see dead bodies on a daily basis laying around, but now it is a much less common occurrence. It was actually strange to him that there happened to be one that was recorded and shown with the documentary.

Ryan doesn't speak too often with his brother Aaron, but they do exchange emails occasionally. Ryan says Aaron remarks about how what he sees in Iraq isn't what was shown to him in training and Ryan says he tells Aaron that now he can see that Ryan wasn't joking when he told him to expect that. The bottom line though is that Aaron's doing good.

About his life after Iraq, Ryan stated that he would be doing book tours to promote his book, and some college and high school lectures with the group Hope's Voice. With the latter he is glad that it will give him the chance to get back on a campus to talk to young people. Ryan said he always hoped to be a teacher of some kind.

For fun he is considering doing the Appalachian Trail. He said that should take about 4 months to complete, but he doesn't plan to do it until the summer of 2011.

Ryan said he still wants to get into film stuff. He wants to get real experience outside the classroom. For self-study he does a lot of reading and practical exercises for screen writing. He wants to go back to college, but first he wants to be a drifter for a little while, driving around and seeing friends and buddies across the country.

Ryan said that he wants to thank everybody that watched Return to Duty. He said it wasn't just a chance for people to see more of what happened to him after The Real World Brooklyn. It is supposed to be a way to teach people what this kind of experience puts a family though and to see what a soldier's life is like in Iraq. The family story is very important to Ryan. He said, "Behind every good soldier is a really strong family, and I hope [the viewers] can take that away, that I am the way I am because of my family."

Ryan On Reaction To Return To Duty

A week after the initial airing of Return to Duty on MTV, Ryan Conklin stated his thoughts about the public's reaction to the show.

Ryan was overwhelmed by the immense positive feedback he got from viewers. He wasn't sure ahead of time what the response would be to this kind of serious documentary on MTV. After it aired he said he was "blown away" by all the comments, and he was very happy that those he saw were positive about the production. On advice from a friend, the day after Ryan searched for "Return to Duty" on Twitter and was shocked to see how many pages of tweets people had written about the show. Ryan wants all of his fans to know how thankful he is for all their support and for making Return to Duty such a success.

Concerning the quality and content of the show, Ryan said it was absolutely amazing to him how it all came together and turned out. It provided an inside look into what his family experienced, not only to the viewers but even to him. He was able to see what his family said about what they were thinking with him being in Iraq and he found it be quite emotional to watch. In particular, the concerns expressed by his mother and sister really moved him. From the comments he received, Ryan could tell that the viewers also were moved by what they saw.

Ryan remarked that he is very proud to have been a part of this project. However, he wants to stress that his story is just one story among thousands of similar stories of other soldiers and other families. He hopes that by showing his particular story that more people can have a better understanding of what military families experience.

Concerning how the show affected people and/or educated them, Ryan stated that the ability to create a work that conveys meaning and evokes emotion is what draws him into filmmaking. It's a creative means that Ryan likes to use to get people to laugh, to be moved, and to think. The effect of the art is awe-inspiring to him. As he said, "It's all magical to me."

On the other hand, the part of the show that was weird for Ryan was to see his "relationship" with Baya Voce on the screen, after they had broken up. Their situation was shown extensively but by the time the show was aired, that relationship didn't exist anymore. Ryan appreciated the kind words from fans hoping for things to last, or be put together, but he wants to make sure that people understand that there won't be a romantic future. He said that even though he is sure that he and Baya will remain friends, he has moved on. "I move on, I'll keep a smile, and I'll enjoy the single life."

Ryan Conklin Needs Your Help

As a way to help spread the word about their new PSA ad campaign, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) has created a special promotional video starring our own Ryan A. Conklin. The purpose of the video is to ask people to watch the new PSA and to tell everyone they know about it.

In the video, which was shot during Ryan's R&R in September, Ryan tells the viewers that he has a job with the IAVA working for Paul Rieckhoff. His job has only one responsibility, to get everyone in America to see the new PSA. He knows it is a daunting task, because it means he has to get over 307,000,000 people to view it.

In the video, Ryan presents the 30 second PSA, called "Camouflage". The message is that no veteran needs to feel alone, because fellow veterans are all around them.

After he shows the video within the video, Ryan says that he has promised the IAVA that he will have everyone in America see the ad by the time he comes back from Iraq for good.

He pleads, "Tell all your friends on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, carrier pigeon, text message, whatever you got. Just help me spread the word."

Here is the link to the PSA on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X7iN5smYrY

So if you are a real fan of Ryan Conklin, and you would like to do something to help him out, then post either the link or the video itself, everywhere. Do it!

By the way, the following video proves how good Ryan does on TV with scripted material. Ryan's got potential. Somebody in TV land needs to cast him.

Ryan Reveals More Answers

Ryan Conklin recorded the second installment of his "Ask Ryan Anything" series. Most of the questions could be answered by any faithful fan, but there were a few good nuggets, like what movie made Ryan cry and what unexpected color is his favorite.

Question number one was, "What is your favorite war movie?" Ryan's answer was Tae Guk Gi, a Korean movie about two brothers forced to fight in the Korean War. Its a tragic story that involves the older brother trying to protect the younger one. Ryan's review is that the movie has some of the best acting he has ever seen. He also admitted that the movie actually made him cry, proving once again that Ryan's got heart.

The second question was, "What is your guilty pleasure?" Ryan's response was the same as what he had previously mentioned as what he missed most about New York. He loves a restaurant in Manhattan called the Creperie. For $10 he gets his favorite crepe, which includes banana, strawberry, nutella, and chocolate sauce. Ryan loves crepes.

The third question was from Jesus. Jesus wanted to know the answer to the question people can't seem to stop asking, which is, "Are you with Baya [Voce]?" Jesus could have looked here for the answer, but since he didn't, Ryan told him, "No" for the present and "No" for the future.

Question number four had to do with blue metal band on Ryan's left wrist. Ryan gamely answered that it was his wrist watch and he wears it because it tells him the time. Realizing that the person asking the question probably had trouble telling left from right and blue from black, Ryan went on to talk about the KIA bracelet on his right wrist. You can read more about it here. Ryan said he never takes it off, but he might someday when the Iraq War ends, as a way to bring closure to it.

The fifth question was simply, "Pirates or ninjas?" Ryan had no problem replying emphatically, "Pirates!" His preference was based on the fact that ninjas hide in the shadows, while pirates do everything out in the open. Aarrr!

The sixth question was, "What does the A. stand for in Ryan A. Conklin?" Well, Miss Kimberly could have easily found that with one click to this other page about Ryan A. Conklin, but instead Ryan had to let her know that it of course stands for Allen. He joked at first that it stood for "Awesome", which is an appropriate appellation but not what is on his birth certificate. Ryan noted that each part of his full name has two syllables and it feels good on the tongue. He also noted, "That's what she said."

Question seven asked who Ryan would want to be bromantic with if not with the-person-I-don't-want-to-name-anymore (it begins with a "C"). As would be expected, Ryan answered that it would definitely have to be his long-time man crush Zach Braff. Ryan said he thinks that Zach and he could have good times, but he was afraid he would probably freak Zach out.

Question eight asked if Ryan is the kind of guy that "rocks out" to Taylor Swift. Ryan shouted, "NO!!!!"

Question nine asked if Ryan was still planning to attend University of Pittsburgh. Well, common sense should have made it clear that the situation previously guiding him to Pitt was former girlfriend Belle. So no Belle, no Pitt. Ryan said he is considering schools in New York and Philadelphia.

The last question was what is Ryan's favorite color. Ryan's answer is blue, which is surprising because of the scarcity of blue shirts he has. One would think he would have more blue clothes with blue as his favorite color. Otherwise, one would have just assumed his favorite color was faded, much laundered black.

Ryan Conklin Return To Duty News

Ryan Conklin is back in the spotlight of the national media because of his documentary Return to Duty premiering on MTV on November 11th, 2009. In April there were a fair number of articles written about him because of his deployment to Iraq at that time. Now there are even more stories about Ryan and the MTV special and they are appearing in the most prestigious newspapers in the country. It's a clear testament to the lasting interest and affection people have for this one former Real Worlder.

The articles are positive reviews for the special, listing it as an important viewing recommendation for the Veterans Day commemoration. It's rather surprising that an MTV show is touted by the likes of the Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, but they all ran with good reviews. For the viewing public, seeing approvals from these sources, they can be assured that the show is going to be a high quality and informative television event.

Here is a review of the reviews:

The Washington Post review by Hank Stuever starts out by referring to Ryan as "a mop-haired, 23-year-old layabout" on The Real World Brooklyn. Well, Ryan had a moderate hair length and yes, there were a number of aired scenes with him laying on his bed working on his manuscript or engaging in pillow talk with his roommate, but he wasn't "mop-haired" and he is quite the opposite of a "layabout". It was also stated that Ryan didn't leave much of an impression on the show. Okay, let's all respond in unison, "FAIL!". Ryan left a big imprint on the viewers of the show, which for his fans continues yet to this day. The author does go on to say that Ryan is likable and honest and that his story as portrayed in the show skillfully shows how far the people in this country are from the wars, yet close in some ways because of the availability of electronic communication.

The article in The New York Times by Neil Genzlinger draws two conclusions. One is that despite being an offshoot of the "mindless" Real World series, Return to Duty "might be the most affecting of the Veterans Day programs this week." The other conclusion is that Ryan might actually be "upstaged" in the special by his admirable parents. The article indeed emphasizes Ryan's parents' role in the story. Dave and Pat Conklin, as a model American family, show how the deployment of a family member affects all those left behind.

The Wall Street journal article by Nancy DeWolf Smith groups Return to Duty with a review of a PBS show about returning servicemen, so it's placed in good company. It states that when Ryan got his fateful notification that he was being recalled, he had "an Abe Lincoln-wannabe beard and a pretty girlfriend with a pierced nose." Well, they were off on the timeline. At the time of the notification, the girlfriend was Belle and she didn't seem to have a pierced nose. Also, Ryan was clean-shaven. He grew the unfortunate beard between the time of the The Real World and his return to uniform. The author does correctly note that Ryan is appealing, on every level. The conclusion is that the show is "not to be missed" and that Ryan and others serving in Iraq and Afghanistan give the "MTV generation" a good name.

For Ryan Conklin fans, it was a foregone conclusion that they would enjoy seeing the documentary and Ryan back on the screen, but it's nice to see that others are also taking note of the exemplary work of this exceptional young man.

Ryan Points Out Scott's Hardiness

Scott Herman, Ryan Conklin's friend and roommate on the Real World Brooklyn, does a lot of weight lifting to keep his body in shape. During the time that the show was taped, Scott tried to make sure that he kept up his weight routine but still he wanted to make sure it didn't interfere with his being a full participant in the roommate experience. So he would often go to the gym downstairs late at night, or when nothing else was going on.

One night, Chet Cannon and Ryan were in the house and Chet noticed on the monitor that the security camera system was currently capturing Scott doing his thing downstairs. Chet had made comments about appreciating Scott's physique before and this time was no different. He was speaking to Ryan at the time and told him that what he was seeing on the screen was "erotic". Chet called Ryan over to watch.

Instead of "erotic", Ryan found it to be funny. This was mainly because the first thing he noticed was what appeared to be an erection in Scott's workout shorts. Ryan exclaimed, "Is that a boner? He has a boner! He has a boner!!" pointing at Scott's crotch. Scott is very excited about exercising and really gets his blood pumping, so a visible manifestation of that would be plausible.

Perhaps misinterpreting Ryan's amusement as Ryan showing interest in someone other him, Chet then started badmouthing Scott. Chet criticized Scott's attire, saying, "He wears the smallest freaking pants." Chet went on to ridicule the repetitive nature of the exercise and Scott's checking in the mirror to make sure he maintained proper form. Chet: "That's the most arrogant pose that anyone can have." Chet then called Scott a d0uchebag and Ryan, weary of the discussion, walked away.

With Ryan out of the way, Chet went back to gazing at Scott. Chet was a little uncertain of his own attraction to what he saw, as he asked, "Why is that so fascinating?"

Eventually Chet couldn't take anymore of how he felt and he moved away from the screen. The pounding motion of Scott's muscles might have been just too much for him as Chet remarked. "I can't watch this channel anymore; it's too repetitive."