Tinker Airman shoots for Olympic gold

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tinker Airman shoots for Olympic gold

Posted: 9/10/2010 9:18:12 AM EDT

by John Stuart

72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

9/10/2010 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) –– When
Airman 1st Class Alex Callage joined the Air Force, he did it because
he believed in the mission, but soon the Airman here will have a new
mission of his own.

A week ago, Airman Callage received orders for to the Olympic Training
Center at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to begin his bid for the 2012
Olympics in international pistol shooting - a process that began nearly a
year ago when he applied to the Air Force's World Class Athlete
Program.

Airman Callage was one of six athletes selected to the WCAP for this
Olympic cycle and the only pistol shooter. Each cycle, 20 to 30 Air
Force WCAP athletes receive a specific tasking to train for the two
years leading up to the games and arechosen based on their potential to
succeed at the Olympic level.

"Getting accepted was a huge deal, not just for me, but for the Air
Force Shooting Team, for my family and my shop that's been supporting me
ever since I got to Tinker," Airman Callage said, who placed fourth in
standard pistol at a national shooting competition in June at Fort
Benning, Ga.

With his fourth-place finish, he missed qualifying for the World
Shooting Championship in Munich. In May, Airman Callage participated in
the Sooner State Games, winning first in the Oklahoma State
Championships in air pistol and standard pistol.

The Airman, a bioenvironmental technician assigned to the 72nd Aerospace
Medicine Squadron, will begin training at least five to six hours per
day, six days a week on various drills for the free, air and standard
pistol events. The scenic front range of the Rockies will be his new
firing range backdrop, as he vies for top spots in several national and
international events each year, culminating in the London Olympics.

"This has always been a goal I've dreamed of," he said.

Posted: 9/10/2010 9:29:04 AM EDT

[#1]

Awesome.

Posted: 9/10/2010 9:29:46 AM EDT

[#2]

Best of luck to the Airman.

I think that having our military in position to compete at the Olympic/international level is a very good thing for the DoD and country and should be encouraged.

Posted: 9/10/2010 9:37:39 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:

Best of luck to the Airman.

I think that having our military in position to compete at the Olympic/international level is a very good thing for the DoD and country and should be encouraged.

He has fine taste in handguns too.

Posted: 9/10/2010 9:40:51 AM EDT

[#4]

Ultra Dot..................................

Posted: 9/10/2010 11:47:54 AM EDT

[#5]

I thought I read something about the Brits only allowing laser tag guns for the 2012 games because of their fascist gun laws???

Posted: 9/10/2010 11:50:25 AM EDT

[#6]

I know he is probably just stationed in Oklahoma, but still Oklahoma, FTW!!!!!

Posted: 9/10/2010 11:59:55 AM EDT

[#7]

Good on him.

BTW, Is that mount attached to the slide? I always thought that was a no-no in that it would beat the hell out of the optic. At least it seems like it would beat the hell out of it to me.

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:01:00 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I thought I read something about the Brits only allowing laser tag guns for the 2012 games because of their fascist gun laws???

Only in modern pentathlon I think.

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:19:11 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Good on him.

BTW, Is that mount attached to the slide? I always thought that was a no-no in that it would beat the hell out of the optic. At least it seems like it would beat the hell out of it to me.

This is A1C Alex Callage- the one in the article. Thank you all for the comments.

Yes it is attached to the slide, its common in Bullseye guns. I've never heard of it damaging the optics, however will hardball loads I dont believe the mount/rings would hold up for long.

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:39:20 PM EDT

[#10]

Best wishes to you, in shooting and in life. And enjoy Colorado –– it's a beautiful place to live.

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:39:44 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Good on him.

BTW, Is that mount attached to the slide? I always thought that was a no-no in that it would beat the hell out of the optic. At least it seems like it would beat the hell out of it to me.

This is A1C Alex Callage- the one in the article. Thank you all for the comments.

Yes it is attached to the slide, its common in Bullseye guns. I've never heard of it damaging the optics, however will hardball loads I dont believe the mount/rings would hold up for long.

Glad to have you here. So your full time job for a while will be shooting up taxpayer provided ammo? That is awesome!

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:46:00 PM EDT

[#12]

Good luck to you Airman!

Can you describe the pistols you use?

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:46:04 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Good on him.

BTW, Is that mount attached to the slide? I always thought that was a no-no in that it would beat the hell out of the optic. At least it seems like it would beat the hell out of it to me.

This is A1C Alex Callage- the one in the article. Thank you all for the comments.

Yes it is attached to the slide, its common in Bullseye guns. I've never heard of it damaging the optics, however will hardball loads I dont believe the mount/rings would hold up for long.

Good on you dude!

Have you shot with any of the base cops yet?

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:46:42 PM EDT

[#14]

Great.

Like the grips.

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:49:18 PM EDT

[#15]

Congratulations Airman!! Have fun and good luck! Any chance you can describe the pistols you will be using? We love some 1911's around here

Posted: 9/10/2010 12:57:44 PM EDT

[#16]

USAFST, outstanding! Good luck with your preparations for the 2012 Olympics.

I was stationed at Tinker back in the 1990's with the 552 ACW (see my avatar.)

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:06:21 PM EDT

[#17]

Curious they would use a picture of him holding a gun that can't be used in International (Olympic) style shooting.
That looks like his Conventional Pistol (bullseye) match gun.
International rules require iron sights.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:43:07 PM EDT

[#18]

Probably the only gun around for the photo shoot. Most people have no idea what " standard pistol " is.

Slide mounting is very common on 1911 wadcutter bullseye guns and Ultra Dots stand up to it verywell.

Posted: 9/13/2010 6:25:22 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Good luck to you Airman!

Can you describe the pistols you use?

The pistol pictured is only used in bullseye matches, they just happened to pick that picture with that gun...

As for the international pistols I use- Toz 35m, Steyr lp1, IZH 35, Walter gsp .22/.32, and a 215s.

Posted: 9/13/2010 8:50:28 AM EDT

[#20]

USAFST-

How were you selected for the program?

Again, best of luck to you!

LT Screechjet, USN.

Posted: 9/13/2010 8:58:27 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Good on him.

BTW, Is that mount attached to the slide? I always thought that was a no-no in that it would beat the hell out of the optic. At least it seems like it would beat the hell out of it to me.

This is A1C Alex Callage- the one in the article. Thank you all for the comments.

Yes it is attached to the slide, its common in Bullseye guns. I've never heard of it damaging the optics, however will hardball loads I dont believe the mount/rings would hold up for long.

CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK, MAN!!! Any chance you could start a thread and keep us updated on your training?

Posted: 9/13/2010 9:01:50 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Good on him.

BTW, Is that mount attached to the slide? I always thought that was a no-no in that it would beat the hell out of the optic. At least it seems like it would beat the hell out of it to me.

This is A1C Alex Callage- the one in the article. Thank you all for the comments.

Yes it is attached to the slide, its common in Bullseye guns. I've never heard of it damaging the optics, however will hardball loads I dont believe the mount/rings would hold up for long.

Welcome and GREAT JOB!

Posted: 9/13/2010 9:01:51 AM EDT

[#23]

Congratulations. You make us all proud (I have a son in the USAF).

Posted: 9/13/2010 2:49:50 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
USAFST-

How were you selected for the program?

Again, best of luck to you!

LT Screechjet, USN.

It was a long process as you can imagine for a at the time 20 year old E-2 to get approved

First I asked the col. In charge of the usaf international team if I should apply, he strongly agreed that I should. Then I got the Olympic team coach and the Olympic committee for shooting sports approval. Then my chain of commands approval from my first line supervisor through my wing commander...then approval from my carrer field manager and commander. Then turned in the package to be reviewed by the AF sports agency with my info scores and placements and various big matches. Then I hurried up and waited, as they say in the AF, for my orders. I was nominated, selected, and approved. Then waited more months for my waivers and orders until I received them two weeks ago, and I report to Colorado tomorrow. Took about 11 months total

Posted: 9/13/2010 3:02:32 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
USAFST-

How were you selected for the program?

Again, best of luck to you!

LT Screechjet, USN.

It was a long process as you can imagine for a at the time 20 year old E-2 to get approved

First I asked the col. In charge of the usaf international team if I should apply, he strongly agreed that I should. Then I got the Olympic team coach and the Olympic committee for shooting sports approval. Then my chain of commands approval from my first line supervisor through my wing commander...then approval from my carrer field manager and commander. Then turned in the package to be reviewed by the AF sports agency with my info scores and placements and various big matches. Then I hurried up and waited, as they say in the AF, for my orders. I was nominated, selected, and approved. Then waited more months for my waivers and orders until I received them two weeks ago, and I report to Colorado tomorrow. Took about 11 months total

Good luck, USAFST!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Tinker Airman shoots for Olympic gold

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