First 5 US Olympic Shooting Team positions to be selected M

[USAMU]

FORT BENNING, Ga. - On the wall of the Pool International Shooting Complex is a clock...but it doesn't tell time. The clock is constantly counting down the seconds to the Summer Olympics. There are now only 167 days to the XXIX Olympic Games, which will be conducted Aug. 8 to 24 in Beijing, China.

There are eight USAMU Soldiers who each will be vying for one of the five positions on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Airgun Shooting Team. The Soldiers - four male rifle shooters, two female rifle shooters and two male pistol shooters - will compete for those coveted five slots Feb. 29 to March 3 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

USA Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic Shooting Sports in the United States, will be conducting the Airgun Olympic Selection Matches to fill five slots on the 2008 U.S. Shooting Team - two Men's Air Rifle, one Women's Air Rifle, one Men's Air Pistol and one Women's Air Pistol.

USAMU Soldiers who will be competing in the Airgun Olympic Trials are: 1st Lt. Lucas F. Leinberger, Sgt. 1st Class Jason A.
Parker, Sgt. Henry L. Gray and Spc. David R. Sprecher in Men's Air Rifle; Sgt. Kelly A. Dove and Spc. Nicole N. Cooper in Women's Air Rifle; and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas A. Rose and Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L.
Szarenski in Men's Air Pistol.

The Olympic Team selection will be based upon the aggregate of the scores from the three courses of fire and the two highest scoring finals - the top eight shooters from each match make the finals. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in the open category - three-day aggregate match score plus best two finals.

The schedule is as follows:

Feb. 29:
* 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Open Training

March 1:
* 8 to 9:45 a.m., Men's Air Rifle Match; noon to 12:45 p.m., Men's
Air Rifle Final
* 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Women's Air Rifle Match; 1 to 1:45 p.m.,
Women's Air Rifle Final
* Noon to 1:45 p.m., Women's Air Pistol Match; 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.,
Women's Air Pistol Final
* 2:25 to 3:30 p.m., Men's Air Pistol Match; 4:45 to 5:15 p.m.,
Men's Air Pistol Final

March 2:
* 8 to 9:45 a.m., Men's Air Rifle Match; noon to 12:45 p.m., Men's
Air Rifle Final
* 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Women's Air Rifle Match; 1 to 1:45 p.m.,
Women's Air Rifle Final
* Noon to 1:45 p.m., Women's Air Pistol Match; 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.,
Women's Air Pistol Final
* 2:25 to 3:30 p.m., Men's Air Pistol Match; 4:45 to 5:15 p.m.,
Men's Air Pistol Final

March 3:
* 8 to 9:45 a.m., Men's Air Rifle Match; noon to 12:45 p.m., Men's
Air Rifle Final and Awards
* 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., Women's Air Rifle Match; 1 to 1:45 p.m.,
Women's Air Rifle Final and Awards
* Noon to 1:45 p.m., Women's Air Pistol Match; 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.,
Women's Air Pistol Final and Awards
* 2:25 to 3:30 p.m., Men's Air Pistol Match; 4:45 to 5:15 p.m.,
Men's Air Pistol Final and Awards.

With separate events for men and women, air rifle shooting joined the Olympic program in 1984. Competitors stand and shoot lead pellets from .177 caliber guns at targets 10 meters away. The 10 ring (the innermost ring of the target) is 1/2 millimeter wide, the size of the period at the end of this sentence.

Air rifles can be either air- or carbon-dioxide-powered and weigh up to 12 pounds by international regulation. Men take 60 shots in one hour and 45 minutes, while women have one hour and 15 minutes for 40 shots.

For men, a score of 600 points is perfect and 595 is world-class. For women, 400 is perfect and 395 is world-class. The top eight competitors advance to a 10-shot final round, with 75 seconds allowed per shot. The final is calculated in 10ths of a point and added to the match score to determine winners. A perfect final score is 109 and a perfect aggregate (match plus final) score is 709 for men and 509 for women.

All rifle clothing and accessories are governed by strict rules for thickness and stiffness. Shooters start with sweatshirts and tights, then put on jackets and pants made of leather or canvas. This ensemble improves physical stability and helps muffle the pulse during these lengthy contests. Flat-soled leather boots aid the rifle shooter's stability from the standing position. Leather gloves with rubber-padded palms help minimize the discomfort of a heavy rifle.
Between shots, competitors rest their rifles on a shooting stand and use spotting scopes to view their targets. Shooting glasses and ear and eye protection are other accessories.

Air pistol shooting joined the Olympics in 1988 and also has separate events for men and women. Competitors use .177-caliber pistols to fire lead pellets at targets 10 meters away. The 10-ring is 11.5 mm wide - much smaller than a dime - and the bull's eye is less than an inch wide.

World-class air pistols are air- or carbon-dioxide-powered guns.
Trigger weight can be no lighter than 500 grams; the width of the grip and length of the barrel are also limited. Men take 60 shots in one hour and 45 minutes, while women have one hour and 15 minutes for 40 shots.

For men, 600 is perfect and 585 is world-class. For women, 400 is perfect and 385 is world-class. The top eight competitors advance to a 10-shot final round, with 75 seconds allotted for each shot. The final is scored in 10ths of a point and added to the match score to determine medalists. A perfect final score is 109 and a perfect aggregate score is 709 for men and 509 for women.

Pistol shooters compete without the benefit of special clothing, gloves or boots. Most athletes wear flat-soled shoes for increased stability, but footwear must not extend above the shooter's ankle.
Competitors frequently wear blinders over their "non-shooting" eye to prevent squinting. In all events, ear and eye protection are required.

(Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Paula.Randall@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com. USA Shooting is the national governing body for the Olympic and international shooting sports in the United States. For more information on USA Shooting, contact Public Relations Manager Mary Beth Vorwerk at (719) 866-4896, MaryBeth.Vorwerk@USAShooting.org or http://www.USAShooting.com.)