Born David Henry Asano in Los Angeles, California in 1987, Asano - nicknamed "Ry" - enlisted into the U.S. Army in 2004. Serving with the U.S. Army 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Ry specialised as a Designated Marksman, experiencing active duty in combat operations across Afghanistan and Iraq.

After him term of service expired in 2012, Asano weighed up his future options. With plans to put down roots in California, Asano judged that he could not commit to another long-term service obligation. Rather, he considered the prospect of working as a PMC an opportunity to amass some capital, with which he could invest back in America.