Much of what I saw on the news before I came over was about the smog and the food. Here are the impressions after six hours on the ground.

We were sitting around talking about how this place reminds us of different places we have been to.  As Soldiers, we were talking about different places and the place that came to mind was Ugljevic, Bosnia.  Soldiers that have been there know how that was. For the people that have not been there, I’m told it is a little like Los Angeles on a bad smog day. If you remember the even/odd license plate days for gas, that is the same thing that the Chinese government is doing for driving now to try and limit the smog.  Today only cars with an odd number as the last number on their license plate were allowed on the road. As far as the airport, security and the attitude of the people — I think it is better than a lot of places I have been.  

As far as the Soldiers go, their training camp in Korea seems to have been the right way to go because the guys are not struggling with jet lag or anything like that.  SPC Jeff Holguin had a very good training camp. The conditions of the range are very good and they can’t wait until their events start. Today was the first day they got on the ranges here in China.  The Olympic Village is where all the competitors stay and the AMU Soldiers are happy with the conditions there. At this point they are as ready as they can be and I think everyone would rather shoot their event the day after the opening ceremonies (tomorrow) rather then wait several days for their events.

AMU Soldier SSG Mark Weeks (assistant Coach for the National Shotgun team) and I were talking about some of the other competitors here today. One guy suffered a mild heart attack a few years ago and SSG Weeks was in the area. He took control of the situation and performed CPR until the rescue crew could arrive. He is obviously fine and tonight that competitor’s daughter celebrated her 18^th birthday here in China. SSG weeks, the competitor and his daughter were all here together.

Training and the opening ceremony are on the schedule for the next few days, but I will have the soldiers start giving some impressions. The internet is clogged, but I will try and have some pictures tomorrow.

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