AAR (Manchester) Tullahoma, TN Nov 10-11 2012

[TN_Dadx5]

The sun was just peaking through the window as I awoke early Saturday morning.  The day was supposed to be warm for November here in TN and we had a full line of new students at our last Appleseed.  What more could a guy ask for?

We had been bumped from our normal range at Arnold Air Force Base by the National Guard but the TN Department of Corrections graciously let us use their 50m range not 10 miles from ours.  We had 30 people signed up for our 30 spot range an was moving to a 20 spot range.  No problems!  Riflemen know how to adapt, improvise and overcome.

The majority of these students were members of a Boy Scout Troop.  We like the Boy Scouts and like helping them maximize their own marksmanship training.  The scouts are usually responsive and respectful, if sometimes boisterous.  We also had a couple of military buddies from opposite ends of TN meet here to see what Appleseed was all about.  I hope we met their expectations!

Our first Redcoat target always tells us what kind of day we have in store for us and this one said we were about to have a doozy.  Less than half of the students qualified, even at 100 yds.  This was not unexpected as most of the student had never fired a rifle.

Instruction began and the students kept up with the instructors.  Instruction and the courses of fire went a bit slow; normal for new students but at the end of the day all but one of the students did not qualify.  And we had 4 people clean the target.

Sunday brought more warm temperatures but lots of wind.  We had winds that were 15-20 mph and gusts up to 38 mph.  It got so bad that we had to lower the target backers to the ground and remove all tarps.  All of the students took the winds in stride and excelled.

Since were had an unusual number of new students, our AQT count was low and we produced only one Rifleman.  But I know that several of them will be back and earn their patch.

Now on to the pictures!

The Whole Group


Instruction Begins


And Continues


Not a hose, but a lot to take in


The Firing Line


Another Shot of the Firing Line


A Determined Student


Our Stylish IIT, BonnieBlue


One-on-one Instruction



Doing It On His Own


The "Tube-fed Twins"?

 
Dad Helps Out


Even Cousin IIT Helps Out!


Happiness is a Clean Redcoat!


Rifleman David (224)


And Our Persistence Award Winners




Thank you all for attending this Appleseed Clinic and I hope to see you all again!

[TNEagle]

Pending TN_Dadx5's full AAR, here's a couple of range shots to whet your appetite:

The Firing Line Early Saturday Morning

Lone Line Boss

[TNEagle]

Here's a couple more:

Learning The Ropes

Sleeping On The Job (Not Really, It Was Windy)

[RunnFree]

It was very nice to work with the Boy Scouts, great kids.  Every one of them was very eager to learn.  A bit windy but I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Love the pics TNEagle.

[TN_Dadx5]

That last picture needs a caption: Winds were so high that we had to use IITs to hold the lighter mats from flying away!

[BonnieBlue]

   It sure was windy, we almost got blown away with the mats!!! 
It was a very good shoot, even though the wind.
 
Really cool Photos Mr. Lynn!

  BonnieBlue 

[TNEagle]

It was very nice to work with the Boy Scouts, great kids.  Every one of them was very eager to learn.  A bit windy but I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Love the pics TNEagle.

As former scout, it was great to see a troop take an interest in Appleseed as a group.

   It sure was windy, we almost got blown away with the mats!!! 
It was a very good shoot, even though the wind.
 
Really cool Photos Mr. Lynn!

  BonnieBlue

Yep, if we had some really strong twine, I think we could have used the mats as kites!

Thanks for the complement RunnFree and BonnieBlue.

I'll post a few more in the next day or so.

[TNEagle]

Here's a few more: