You might think that with seven Olympics between them that MAJ Mike Anti and SFC Jason Parker would be old hands at this, not at all. I spoke with them today and it was obvious that the combination of the opening ceremony, meeting the President of the United States and their events still pending had them fired up.

Both were going over routines they have used after years of rooming together on the road to keep the tension down. Only half joking, Anti said, “We both know what bothers the other guy and depending on who starts bothering who first it could go on for days.” “You have to stick to your routine” they both said — even if that means finding a McDonalds.

The opening ceremony for the athletes lasts for most of the day, but Parker wasn’t having any of it. “My event is just a few days away and I wasn’t going to spend eight hours in that craziness when I could be getting ready.” SFC Parker marched in the ceremony, but found a side exit and went back to his room. The rest of the Soldiers don’t shoot for a few more days so they stayed for all the media events afterwards and finally got back to their rooms about 2 a.m. SFC Parker has his official training event the 10th and will shoot air rifle, one of his two events, starting on the 11^th.

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