This was a really great shoot in a new location. Like many new location shoots, turnout was rather low, but the students themselves were challenged in ways that made them come back for more. I was very gratified to see that there was very little frustration. Everyone brought their best teachable attitudes.
Saturday dawned clearly with a temp of about 55 degrees, which would rise to a balmy 70 in the afternoon. By 09:00am the three pre-reg's were joined by six more students. Moreover, one of them is an RWVA member who has instructed at events, but whose job requirements prevent him from "officially" becoming an IIT. So he said. Job or no job, he gave up his Saturday shooting so he could assist me on the line with instruction and range safety. Thanks, Redwolf. As far as I'm concerned, you're now OFFICIALLY an IIT.
Welcome, safety brief, safe rifle conditions, and introduction to the cultural context and philosophy of 1775 New England took about an hour plus. First rounds went downrange at the Redcoats at around 10:30. Two sets of squares took us through the prone position, proper sling use, the six steps, NPOA, and talking targets and on to lunch at 12:30pm. I began the history at 1:15, and told the first and second strike while they listened with rapt attention and intelligent questions. After an hour of history discussion, shooting resumed at 2:20 on the CAQT's, AKA Zombie Targets, Greencoats, etc. The students learned standing/sitting, IMC and sight adjustments, mag changes, NPOA shifts, and transitions and had as much practice as I could give them. By 4:40, it was time to run them through a mock AQT. They learned the course of fire and got the chance to shoot it off the stopwatch. At 5:20, they did it for real on the AQT, under time. No Rifleman scores, but the Redcoat we shot at 5:50 proved marked improvement across the board. The line was cleared and secured at 6:00pm, at which time I told the third strike story. Total round count for the day was 190 rounds expended.
Sunday dawned with a full overcast, moderate drizzling rain, and overall dreary feel. It was definitely bed weather. Two of the Saturday students were one-day attendees, so I expected six students to return. As 9:00 arrived, only two were present. I figured this was a good opportunity to find a nice dry place inside to wait a while for other four. It took until about 9:45, but three of them braved the immoderate weather and came to shoot. We did a classroom session until about 11:30, discussing all aspects of the previous day, shooting in general, and had an open discussion about the history I had introduced them to the day before. When that was concluded, the rain had broken and the standing water had dissipated enough so the shooters weren't lying in water. They, along with Redwolf this time (I figured he deserved the trigger time, and I wanted the students to see how a Rifleman shoots!) began with two star targets to warm up and practice acquiring NPOA, then went directly to CAQT's. They broke for a quick lunch at 1:00pm, and then went straight into the AQT grind. By 4:00pm, we had a Rifleman! Total round count for the day was 230 rounds expended, for a two-day total of 420 rounds.
At the conclusion of the event, I was able to speak with two of the students about their experience. Our new Rifleman was quite pleased, and the other student, who was his carpooling buddy and the second-highest scorer for the weekend, had previously been to another Appleseed. Both were members of another shooting club, and asked if we could have an Appleseed there. I gave them my number and contact info, and they said they would ask if the range master would contact me for setting up a visit. Another venue perhaps? I hope so. Also, one of them mentioned that the AQT grind was "grueling". Ahhh, that's what I was hoping to hear. Becoming a Rifleman IS grueling. It's a physical and intellectual metamorphosis that must be undertaken in order to understand one's self and one's place in society in a more affirmative, positive, and realistically self-aware manner.
Making Riflemen. One at a time. It's what we do.
Sorry about the delay in getting these pics up. The first is Redwolf and our newest North Carolina-forged Rifleman. The second is of the same Rifleman with North Carolina's newest Shoot Boss, Stimey.