Appleseed was fortunate to have a break in the fierce summer heat for the July 16-17 event at the Pinetucky Gun Club in Augusta. Saturday we had overcast skies, gentle breezes, and temperatures in the mid-80s, although Sunday was clear and a bit warmer. After the first Hits Count! target as a benchmark, we began with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of marksmanship, with the Six Steps, Prone Steady Hold Factors and Sling Use, and Natural Point of Aim. We practiced several dry fire drills before we ever sent another round downrange, then learned more fundamentals with Rifleman's Cadence, Talking Targets, and Inches, Minutes, and Clicks. At lunch we had the first of the Three Strikes, and we were graced to have a career military officer who was able to give us insights into the considerations of each side. But he also included a strong emphasis on Choices, Performance, and One man Can Make A Difference, with this and the subsequent two Strikes he presented.
After lunch, we learned the Sitting Position, and then later transition to sitting and prone, and lastly, the Standing Position. The we began shooting the AQTs. We were fortunate to have an ideal instructor to student ratio, and our students showed remarkable improvement. One student, for example, who was unable to hit the cardboard backer on Saturday morning, had developed into a 300-yard shooter by Sunday afternoon, a tribute to the persistence displayed by all our students. That, and a willingness to learn that was most gratifying.
Saturday the benediction was given by our Appleseed State Coordinator, who was able to come from Atlanta and give his excellent "Liberty Evangelism" presentation. The After Action Report Saturday evening had the input of several students, and changes suggested were incorporated into Sunday's instructional program. We briefly reviewed all the prior day's fundamentals Sunday morning and did a bit more work on the squares targets before beginning the "AQT grind". During lunch Sunday we heard several vignettes of Dangerous Old Men, Brave Women, and Gallant Children, and then plunged back into more AQT work before we went on to the Actual Distance component of the Appleseed weekend. Although Pinetucky has facilities only to 100 yards, most of our students elected to try their hand at that range, and found that what works at 25 yards works equally well at 100 yards. They also got some hands-on experience in Inches, Minutes, and Clicks and returning to Battle Sight Zero for the final Hits Count! target of the weekend.
Although we did not distribute any Rifleman patches over the weekend, we saw remarkable improvement in our students and several decided to take advantage of the Civilian Marksmanship Program by getting certificates of attendance. We had an enjoyable weekend learning a skill that has been part of our culture for over two hundred years, we were instructed in the true events of April 19, 1775, and we had an excellent exposure to the blessings and treasure of the Spirit of Liberty.
Doctor John,
That is an awesome summary of what sounds like another awesome AS weekend. We are truly blessed to have Men of your caliber, who know very well what they are about.
--Jimmy boy