A former Fulston Manor pupil has followed his American dream and joined the US army.

Ryan Todd always wanted to move to the States, inspired by his mum Karen who is originally from Boston, and his beloved grandfather Gene Hunt from Florida.

The 19-year-old left school at 16 to go to Canterbury College to work towards a career in sports.

Ryan, who played for Sittingbourne Rugby Club’s Under 18s, felt it would be a good move, but his heart still rested in the US.

He holds dual citizenship along with his 21-year-old sister Caitlin, who recently graduated from Plymouth University.

Having been very close to his granddad, who served in the US navy and died last year, joining the forces was always in the back of his mind.

His dad Laurence, who taught business studies at Borden Grammar School for more than 20 years, said: “He just decided to go for it and flew over last August and enlisted in September.

“He passed all of his tests and is absolutely loving it. It’s such a great decision.”

Ryan spent October to January training and on January 26, his family flew out to witness his graduation ceremony, where he became a fully fledged solider.

“They were marching and saluted, it was a really choking moment" -Laurence Todd

Laurence, of Tunstall Road, Tunstall, said: “He was originally at Fort Jackson in South Carolina but his squadron is now based in Fort Lee in West Virginia.

“We went to his graduation and it was brilliant.

Ryan has friends and family in the US and is now living there, having signed on for three years.

He is a member of Delta company, 2nd Battalion of the 39th Infantry and is training as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.

Laurence said he and his wife, a maternity services manager for the Department of Health, couldn’t be more proud.