Joint Base Charleston, S.C. –
A 628th bioenvironmental engineering officer took first in his division at the 2017 Archery Shooters Association Classic competition in Cullman, Alabama.
The archery competition took place in the woods with wildlife game-shaped targets providing a life-like scenario archers encounter while hunting. It can be thought of as golf except the holes are 3-dimensional targets and every “hole” is par one. Various rings on the target determine the points earned.
Maj. Scott King, 628th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight commander, has been fascinated with archery since he was 12 years old, growing up in a hunting family in Pennsylvania.
“My brother got me interested in competing,” said King. “It has been my goal for a long time to win a national event. It felt awesome to do as well as I did. I like the challenge of using a bow rather than a firearm. I feel it requires more technique.”
An archer should have little variance in shooting mechanics from one shot to the next. King used an on-base facility to perfect his technique and to dial in his shot for the competition.
“I spend a lot of my training time at the Outdoor Recreation archery range,” said King. “The fact we even have an archery range on the installation is an amazing resource. I would encourage anybody to look into what the Outdoor Recreation Center has to offer because there are a lot of opportunities there."
The Air Force Sports Office can pre-approve a permissive TDY for any sport considered an Olympic sport. Commanders then can authorize permissive TDY for local sporting events not exceeding 30 days.
“Even though it was not a requirement for my permissive TDY, I wore an Air Force polo shirt to represent our organization,” said King. “It was an awesome opportunity many people are not granted by their employer.”
Although he was grateful for the support of the Air Force, King really emphasized the importance of the support he receives from his family for his hobbies and his demanding Air Force career.
"I'm really grateful for the support I receive from my wife and two girls to do my job and pursue this sport. Without their help I wouldn't be able to do any of it."