First up
SFC Jason Parker is first up for the USAMU Soldiers. He has earned an Olympic slot in two events and will have about a week “off” between them. Tomorrow’s event is the 10-meter air rifle event.
In the air rifle event, a .177-caliber (pellet) rifle is used. The rifle can not weigh more than 12.1 pounds. Any sight not containing a lens or system of lenses is permitted. Competitors complete 60 shots in 105 minutes. The shots are fired in the standing position at a target 10 meters away that has a center ring 0.02 inches in diameter. Let me say that again — 0.02 inches in diameter. Eight athletes advance to the finals, where they each have 75 seconds to fire 10 shots.
International Rifle and Pistol are very big national sports in Europe and Asia. SFC Parker first started shooting when he was 3 years old with a BB gun. His competitive career began at the age of 13. After Graduation from Xavier University (OH) where he earned a bachelor’s in Psychology and was a 7-time All- American International Rifle shooter, he enlisted into the Army.
We spoke earlier and he said, “My guns are shooting fine, the ammo is good, now I just have to go out and shoot.” I can tell you though that he probably isn’t sleeping well tonight and his roommate MAJ Anti is trying to keep the distractions in the Olympic Village to a minimum. I guess if I was shooting standing in the Olympics at a target not much bigger then the period at the end of this sentence, I wouldn’t be sleeping all that well either.
