Although we didn't have a large group of students for the IBC, the six we did we have showed great ability and persistence. We began Saturday with the IBC syllabus as handed down from Junior Birdman, Dragonwood, Son of Martha, and PHenry. Introductory general remarks included the standards of Simplicity and Precision, brevity and clarity, avoidance of over teaching and telling students what not to do, and other accepted Appleseed doctrine. We then went on to the Safety Rules, Safe Rifle, Ammunition Malfunctions, and Line Commands. After each natural unit, we would break into small groups and have the students practice delivery, with small corrections and advice as needed. We then went on to Sling Use and Steady Hold Factors in Prone, Natural Point of Aim, the Six Steps, Rifleman's Cadence, The Seated Positions, Standing or Offhand, and then Transitions. Because of a favorable instructor to student ratio, the individual demonstrations went quickly, and we finished the first day's planned activity early Saturday afternoon with a passionate presentation on how to tell the Story of April 19, 1775.
Because we seemed to be on a roll, the students elected to go on to the second day's instruction, and we plunged into a comprehensive review, including Safety Rules, Safe Rifle, Line Commands, and Ammunition Malfunctions. We were graced that one of our instructors brought his AR-15 and showed the group the uncommon but very troublesome cartridge over bolt carrier malfunction, and how to properly clear it. We then went on to new material, including Inches-Minutes-Clicks, Instructing on the Firing Line, Instructing on the Target Line, both with squares targets and then with the AQT. The group broke for supper and had a delightful meal together at a nearby restaurant, where we lingered long after the end of the meal and got to know one another better.
Sunday we began a bit ahead of where we had planned to be, and covered how to present an Actual Distance presentation on Sunday afternoon at a regular Appleseed event, how to set up and run an administration table, and then we had our final exam, including a number of bonus extra credit questions. I am as pleased as punch to report that our gallant and very talented students passed the final with flying colors, including getting all the extra credit questions correctly answered. We moved outside for a live fire mock Appleseed, with each student getting to act as Line Boss and Range Safety Officer and the instructors acting as Appleseed "students". Afterward, we moved back inside for the benediction, a most inspirational presentation by Morpheus of Patrick Henry's immortal "Liberty or death!" speech. The students graciously completed an evaluation in order to improve our IBC presentation, after which we regretfully said our goodbyes and took our leave.
This instructor wishes to express his deep gratitude to Roswell and 76Patriot, without whose invaluable assistance the event never would have taken place, to Jambo for his ongoing work to nurture and strengthen Appleseed's relationship with Georgia Mountain Shooting Assoc., to Morpheus for his guidance and especially for his presentation of the Sunday benediction, to GMSA for their generous use of the clubhouse, and especially to our gallant students, who traveled sometimes great distances and spent valuable family time in honing their ability to "light a fire for Liberty in the hearts of people and become the finest marksmanship instructors on the planet". My commendations and thanks to all.
This was a great IBC! Big thank you to Georgia Mountain Shooting Association for the awesome accomodations, to DrJohn for putting everything together and leading us in his masterful way, BOTG Jambo for his efforts to make sure our connection with GMSA remains strong and everything runs smooth, and thank you to the folks in Toccoa who put us up in their house. Last, but not least, thank you those that came to learn; I can't wait to work with each of you again soon.
Here are some pictures I took over the weekend.
It begins! The Doctor is in! ;D
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/IMG_5788.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/IMG_5788.jpg.html)
The students soaking in the wisdom of DrJohn
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/IMG_5790.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/IMG_5790.jpg.html)
DrJohn demonstrating the Hasty Hasty with the dummy rifle
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed%201.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed%201.jpg.html)
Students practicing how to instruct the prone position
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed.jpg.html)
We had one problem student though who just wouldn't pay attention...
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/IMG_5797.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/IMG_5797.jpg.html)
In fact she even distracted some of our most experienced red hats! ;D
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed%202.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed%202.jpg.html)
We managed to get things back on track though. ;)
Here is DrJohn answering some questions on running an admin table.
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt156/RoswellC/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed%203.jpg) (http://s607.photobucket.com/user/RoswellC/media/Toccoa%20GA%20-%20%20IBC%20August%201-2%202015/unnamed%203.jpg.html)
Thank you guys for an awesome weekend of quality instruction and the imparting of wisdom for those of us new to the Appleseed instructor ranks. I certainly learned a great deal and enjoyed the camaraderie of Goergia's Appleseed corps.
I look forward to working with you guys again in the future.
Yours in Liberty,
Steve/ Yankee Doodle
This was a terrific event. I enjoyed getting to know all of you. The instruction and wisdom handed out this weekend was well worth the trip.
I do hope to work with all of you again soon.
David
What an extraordinary group of students at this IBC! It was an honor to work with you all, and I can't wait to work with each of you out on the AS trail.