22 year-old Buckeye state college student helps U.S. troops improve aim

By Ken Gordon
The Columbus Dispatch

The photo looks like one of those "Which one doesn't belong?" deals. Seven U.S. Army Rangers stand in fatigues and combat boots. In their midst stands a smiling college kid in tennis shoes, jeans and a hoodie.

The only similarity is they all hold M-16 rifles. Sam Ohlinger, that smiling college kid, was teaching those professional soldiers how to better use them. Ohlinger is a senior on the Ohio State rifle team. Since 2005, the 22-year-old also has been moonlighting as a civilian marksmanship instructor for the Army.

Ohlinger was 19 when he was selected as an instructor, which made him the youngest of the 30 chosen at that time.

The photo comes from his latest gig, a weeklong trip in December to Fort Benning, Ga., to work with the 3rd Ranger Battalion. He previously worked with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Those are two of the nation's most storied and decorated units. Who would've thought that they get shooting lessons from a fresh-faced civilian?

"At first, it was intimidating," Ohlinger said. "I didn't know how I would be received. It's kind of hard to take a lesson from someone younger than you sometimes.

"But that's my biggest compliment to the Army and to the program, is everyone I've ever worked with has been nothing but respectful and disciplined and eager to learn. I was really pleasantly surprised."

It's sort of a dream assignment for Ohlinger, who says the Fourth of July is his favorite holiday and who might well have been accepted by the U.S. Military Academy but for his asthma.

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