Florida's first "autonomous" IBC is in the bag!
With the most generous donation of time, space, and home cooking made by NHale and his brother DaddyFatty I have witnessed to date, Florida's first home-growed IBC was off and running last Saturday AM. Our generous hosts are managers of a business in Tampa, that is located in a cavernous warehouse that once housed a large American manufacturing business, long since "outsourced" to elsewhere. While this is a sad tale of opportunity lost for the local economy, thanks to the out of box thinking of our hosts - it became an opportunity for the program to "teach the teachers".
We used conference and break room spaces for class portions of the IBC POI and a small part of the warehouse bay for the mock Appleseed line. Six students, five instructors and one SI gathered to study the best way to pass on their storied heritage to their fellow Americans. We began early and stayed late. We demo'd positions. We recited the safety rules (over and over and over). We recited the line commands and what constitutes a safe rifle. The six steps, the history, known distance. The IITs now realizing that there is a lot more to instructing than that which meets the eye at an event. Instructors have to know the whys and the why nots in additon to what is actually taught.
While the material was grueling at times - the home-made BBQ lunch on Saturday was enjoyed by all, as was the biscuits and gravy for breakfast Sunday AM and the red bean and rice on Sunday for lunch. What a perfect venue for a summer IBC!
My deep appreciation for all of the hard work by the students and instructors who gave up a full weekend to better assist Appleseeds in its unrelenting mission to expose ordinary Americans to their extraordinary heritage. Spending a weekend amongst people who do not have a couch glued to the posterior is a special and wonderfully hopeful thing to experience. I think it was Theri who summed it up best "If I had spent the weekend at home on the couch reading and studying all of the materials, I never would have learned so much".
Madam Clinnon graced us with her ever pleasant presence for all of Sunday (she was busy volunteering to teach a hunter safety course on Saturday). Then there was Marrandy, our very own ex-RAF Applseeder and Sly223, who drove up from waay down south. There was 9mm4545 and bill-o-rites - a couple of fine Americans by any measure. All in all, the IBC went very well and much improvement was gained. Each of these great folks will be appearing live at an event here in Florida very soon, so come on out and grade my work in teaching them!
So come on out and see what our team can do for your marksmanship! O0
The Florida instructor corps was turning into all Red Hats. Not good. This fine bunch of Americans will help flesh out the ranks. I am looking forward to seeing the lot of you on the line in the coming months.
Thank you very much for the effort you make for our country.
Willorith
My sincere thanks to all who made this event happen. The fine cooking and use of the facility was way over the top and very much appreciated. Better hosts would be hard to find. The patient coaching and cajoling of all the Red Hats made me realize that I still have a lot to learn and that the shootin' is the easy part. Thanks once again to everyone. See ya'll on the trail. Bruce
What can I say? A 'garand' time was had by all!
RickB
An impressive performance by some hard-charging IIT's. Kudos to all of you for your perseverance and performance. O0
talk about a new appreciation for instructors and iit's. man you guys make it look so easy at a shoot. who knew how much work was really involved!!!i enjoyed meeting everyone and the instruction could not have been better you are men who know very much what you are about bill o rites
First I want to thank PHenry and the "Red Hats" that conducted this boot camp.
Also a very big thanks to NHale and DaddyFatty for the use of their facility and the outstanding lunches.
After attending 3 Appleseeds, shooting Rifleman several times and reading (and highlighting) the Instructor's Manual twice I felt I understood the positions, steady hold factors, six steps and the line commands very well but found out at this IBC that I had alot to learn. I am so much better prepared to work as an IIT then I was just 3 days ago as result of attending this IBC. I strongly urge all IIT's to attend an IBC if at all possible as it all I expected and much more.
Thank you to PHenry, the RH's and the other IIT's that made it such a worth while experience.
Theri
Well, all this old timer can say is 'what a great group'.....nice to meet new faces and see old ones too.....getting to instruct thisfine group was a treat for me also, instructing in the fine art of instructing at an Appleseed can be trying at times.....every one involved gave their all to learn....no ego issues with anyone.....
as far as the location, it could not have been any better, I just wish our hosts could have spent more time in class....as they both are real sharp fellows. Till next weekend at Myakka, BrownBess signing off.....
It was so great to come out from under my rock and meet you all on Sunday. I was kinda of lethargic because of the nice cold air in the conference room, but next week in Myakka with all the heat, I will be crawlin about....I have never seen such a dedicated bunch of Red Hats and enthusiastic Orange Hats in my 19 months on the Trail.....
The only thing missing was the smell of gunpowder burning , the reports of the rifles and the smiles on the shooters faces as they got the Virginia Headshot.....
Hoping to see all of you real soon,
Woody
Great experience all around learned a ton. Had a great time,Thanks to my AS family. You always come through and provide and I appeciate everything. :--- See you on the trail my next trip is to Myakka.