Lucky Shot

Stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S. Army Specialist Austin Odom is a busy young man. After enlisting in 2013 (three months after his graduation from Benton High School), he has quickly moved up the ranks, earning the promotion to Specialist from Private First-Class six months ahead of schedule.

At the same time, Odom is honing his skill as a trained shotgun marksman with his eye set on making the 2016 U.S. Team for the Olympics on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

If those accolades and goals aren’t impressive enough, did we mention he just turned 20 years-old?

“Yeah, I’ve got a lot going on these days,” Odom said.

The sport of shooting came early and naturally to Odom. Truth is, the Benton native had long had a fascination with firearms since before grade school. He just needed his father to come around and give him a shot.

“I had always liked guns, and Dad had more guns than could be counted,” Odom said. “He hunted for something almost every weekend in season, but growing up he would never let me go near or touch a gun until I was about six-years-old.”

While Odom joined his father on regular hunts, he quickly picked up an aptitude for small caliber rifle shooting, primarily at silhouette targets. From there, he joined the local 4-H Chapter in Saline County where everything seemed to change.

“(The 4-H Clubs) have a shooting program in Arkansas. I got into shooting rifles, pistols and shotguns,” Odom said. “There was a shotgun practice the first time I went. I guess I was around 10, maybe 11 years old. The first time I shot, I did really well.”

At the urging of one of his coaches, Odom became involved with American-style trap shooting through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Youth Sports Shooting Program.

“I went out there and missed one trap in my first American event” Odom said. “I still worked with 4-H, and I still shot silhouettes, but I began focusing most of my attention on American Trap.”

Austin’s interest in sport shooting was supported by his father almost immediately. However, convincing his mother, Melissa, took a little coaxing.

“When I first decided to get involved, I couldn’t believe I was getting my child into a shooting sport, not knowing what to expect,” she said. “But we have come in contact with the most incredible people. It’s amazing to see how (they) have helped Austin grow and mature into the man he is today.”

Odom spent his early teens competing and training at an NRA advanced shooting camp in Muenster, Texas with coach Russ Arnold and three-time Olympian Brett Erickson. The camp and new training forced Odom away from American-style trapshooting and into International-style trapshooting.

“As the camp was coming to an end, Brett (Erickson) suggested I go to the Junior Olympics and National Championships that summer in Colorado Springs,” Odom said. “I followed through and finished high in my age group for the competition.”

International Trap differs from American Trap in specific ways. Most notably, the targets are thrown at vary speeds and angles in International Trap, whereas in American style, they are thrown at a 45-degree angle.

Also, the size of the rounds fired is smaller in International Trap (7/8 oz) compared to American Trap (1 1/8 oz). As a result, International Trap shooters can fire multiple times at one target, compared to American Trap where competitors get just one shot per target.

Upon returning to Arkansas, Austin Odom continued his training in International Trap with the help of Tommy Browning, who has the only International Trap range near his home in Wooster.

“He’s a great coach and a world champion sporting clay shooter,” said Odom. “He coached me for six years. He’s like family to me.” Browning is also the father and coach of national and world champion shooter Kayle Browning. “Kayle is one of my best friends,” Odom said.

While a student at Benton High School, Odom continued competing around the country, earning his way onto the Junior Olympic and National shooting teams.

Following graduation, Odom enlisted with the U.S. Army and was immediately accepted into the Marksmanship Unit. This distinction would allow him to continue training toward his goal of the 2016 Olympic Games. “Two weeks after basic training, I won a competition at Junior’s at our Spring Selection Match,” he said. “I made the Junior World Championship Team and went to Germany and Spain.”

Given the recent notoriety for the training and skill that goes into military marksmanship, Odom was very quick to dismiss any notion his talent would be converted into those of a sniper. “Because we travel so much and compete, it’s hard to branch out into other weapons,” he said. “It’s been nine years since I was competitive with a rifle. Obviously, I still hunt, but it’s been a long time.”

As for the next 18 months of preparation for the 2016 Games, Odom’s schedule remains packed and focused. “I just got a notification that I’m going to the Junior World Cup in Germany in June. We have our National Championships coming up in Colorado.

“We also have Junior Olympics and Nationals combined,” he added. “If I shoot well enough there, I’ll go to two more competitions overseas.”

It’s a tall order, no doubt. And you need any perspective as to how tight the competition is, Austin’s mother, Melissa is quick to remind you. “I truly hope he makes it, but we’re all very realistic to the fact that this is a highly competitive sport,” she said. “On any given day, there at least 15 men in this country that it will be there day. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Austin is one of the best shooters in the country.”