This event was Devinne by all aspect of the word. The weather was hot and humid as to be expected, just about the time you thought the world would combust it poured rain 1/2" in 15-20min.then a twenty minute drizzle, the lightening and thunder kept to a safe distance.
Two fine young eager patriots showed up Saturday eager to learn, the traditions of marksmanship and to learn the true history of our founding fathers.(ROB & JASON)
ItsanSKS and Myself started the safety instructions and six steps to making a safe rifle, were well received and we performed the line drill and had the students bring back to the line their rifles to the line make them safe. The instructors quickly cleared the line made it cold released the students to the target line to post the fabled red coat or hits count target. We managed to get the first rounds down range shortly before 9am thatwas the good part of the start, however the result showed exactly what I told them they could not hit the broad side of a barn from the inside.
We poured on the fire hose of instruction and demonstrations, covered strong positions, indexing, and the six steps,NPOA. By 11am these guys were really starting to get it! ..:..
By the end of the day we had three AQT's in the bag with very respectable 150-160 ranges between the two.
Huzzah! Fine job gentleman, I know I will see these two on the line again soon.
The second day Kevin showed up on Sunday with a new outlook on things. We were able to keep a torred pace due to his grasp of the knowledge this not being his first AS.He quickly showed marked improvement over his last AS and finished strong with a 180 on the AQT. This strong young man will let nothing stand in his way and we will see him again on the line.
Great event except the love bug infestation!
We all had a great time.We do not get quantity this time of year but the quality is worth it and these are the students most prone to help our cause they all talked about how many people they can bring when it cools down.Too tuff to get folks off their couch and out of the A/C.
No safety issues what so ever, I got some heat cramps on sunday,better prepared with a bigger cooler more water, ice and Gatorade.
Thanks for all your help Airplane Joe.
ItsanSKS, gave everyone dryfire exercises for Homework, the reason we have you do this is simple,IT WORKS!!!
Two homework assignments given to our students:
- Practice the positions and transitions during dry-fire at home.
- Spread the word about Appleseed; the marksmanship, the Heritage, and our shared history.
With two students, and two Instructors for both days, our students had a great deal of one-on-one instruction, and their improvement showed the results.
Summertime has almost ended in Florida, but the weather was sure to remind everyone that it isn't over yet- temps remained relatively low, but the humidity on both days ensured that everyone went through more water than they thought humanly possible.
I would like to thank the four students who braved the sweltering summer heat to be with us this weekend- it is because of folks like you that we keep on coming back, weekend after weekend. Persistence is the key to becoming a Rifleman; it also is a trait that ensured that our forebears, when faced with impossible odds, were able to stay the course and eventually win the fight against Tyranny. Though your struggle to master the fundamentals of marksmanship may not register on the grand scheme of things, the character traits that undertaking such an endeavor instills within you may change the course of your life.
What a day!! It was sunny and humid, then we got attacked by hordes of love bugs, then it rained. But the task at hand was accomplished. Huzzah.
Airplanejoe