8 diligent shooters joined a fantastic cadre of Instructors on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at a new Project Appleseed range in Greenbrier, TN. Long Meadow Farm features a beautiful pond, an outdoor (but covered) meeting area, wooded surroundings and available camping. The temperature reached the high 80's Saturday, but with the trees and a number of pop-up canopies there was a lot of shade.
All but one of the shooters were first-timers and every one of them had teachable and attentive attitudes. In attendance on Saturday was an ideal Instructor cadre with 1 Applecore, 2 IIT's, 2 red hats, a Senior Instructor, a Master Instructor (and National Coordinator) and your humble Shoot Boss. As one of the team put it at the Sunday afternoon conclusion: "We're family," and she is right.
We did have one shooter who was hampered health wise on Saturday, but he stayed, persisted, and observed through the day.
Sunday was overcast and late in the day there was strong, but short-lived, summer shower.
Improvements in the marksmanship were readily apparent from Saturday to Sunday. Shooters were applying what they learned and the proof was apparent downrange.
Wasey earned his first Rifleman patch and a member of the cadre re-qualified. We also had 2 first time shooters knocking on the door (205 & 206!) on the last AQT's.
Ramblin' Wreck gave an exemplary First Strike and KD presentation, Nashville Stage gave a stirring Second Strike and Old Navy Doc presented the Third Strike with a challenge for all those listening to pass on the message of Liberty. Sunday's lunch was filled with Dangerous Old Man / Woman stories and concluded with a demonstration of firing a Brown Bess musket by first-time shooter Andrew. Thank you, Andrew!
Overall, this was one of the most attentive and teachable groups of shooters I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
Sounds like a large time was had by all. Congrats to the new Rifleman! Hope the near Riflemen will return soon. Hopefully this will be the first of many Appleseeds at Greenbrier.
As one of the students to this event I can honestly say, I was both humbled and impressed. I've paid much, much more for firearms classes where I did not get even close to this much attention. The quality of instruction, demonstration, and passion was unmatched by any firearms training I have ever received.
Knowing I would likely die taking this course due to my lack of physical fitness, I mostly went for the history lesson. However, I was excited to learn about rifles as I am solely a pistol shooter. One hour into the rifle training on the line and I was in so much pain and disappointment as I was not even close to doing what was asked of me. My humiliation was all my own, never once did an instructor make me feel bad or disgraced. Instead I got encouragement, suggestions, and lots of assistance.
After lunch on the first day my body was screaming to go home, but I hung in there and was rewarded by seeing hints of smaller groups on targets. Communicating to instructors on what I was experiencing and problems I was having they would reach into there bag of tricks and offer a solution. Improvements kept mounting.
At the end of the first day I was in so much pain I knew I was not going to be able to return the next day. However, after probably the best sleep I have ever had, I awoke early to find myself headed back to the range against my better judgement.
I was the first to arrive, so I got out my mat and began practicing the different positions. Trying to find what would work for me and what would not. In the morning we started out with more history and instructions. I again communicated more problems I was having, and answers flowed from experienced riflemen. These weren't, off-the-cuff answers, but answer from riflemen who know what they were talking about, because they at one time had the very problems I was having.
On the line I put to use the recommendations and instructions that had been provided. I began to finely relax as the things we did were now repeating and I was finally able to focus on what I was doing without worrying about something new to apply. Accuracy was improving, speed was increasing, and I felt like I was finally starting to hold my own and maybe had a chance at not being a cook. The pain was back, but now there was an element of fun, although exhaustion was setting in. The pace was increasing and mistakes on my part were mounting and likely cost me the riflemen patch. With a score of 197, 202, and then a 206, I could feel the patch as if it was proudly displayed on my shirt. The quick pace had finally taken its toll on my poorly maintained body as I could no longer hold my head up to see through the scope. I finally became the quitter I feared, but I was exhausted and without a long break I could no longer continue. My scores were well above anything I could have imagined and for that I proclaimed the instructors to be miracle workers.
With bloody elbows and completely exhausted, I returned home not feeling like a failure, but feeling as if I had accomplished the impossible.
All week I have been asked why my elbows are bandaged and what happened. My reply has been, "I spent the weekend taking the best history class I have every taken and I am proud to say, I survived."
Thank you to all who shared your passion, your wisdom, your experience, your camaraderie, and most of all your willing to tell a story of Liberty and remind us how much we owe to those who when asked put their lives, there families, and their fortunes on the line. I am thankful to you all, both the story tellers and those who the stories are about.
Cracked Brass, you have the attitude of a Rifleman. You improvised, adapted, and overcame, to borrow the aphoristic guideline/exhortation oft-quoted in these parts. The fact that you were that uncomfortable but decided to stick it out and knocked on the Rifleman score's door speaks to your perseverance, which is a keystone element of becoming a Rifleman. My hat is off to you; huzzah!
I can't say enough good things about the AAR weekend in Greenbrier. As a first timer, I wasn't sure what to expect. Needless to say, I was blown away at the level of knowledge and instruction we received from the instructors. They are second to none! The flow of the weekend with the history and marksmanship mixed together was good. I think it's safe to say all of us in attendance learned a lot. Thank you to the instructors for giving me the training to earn my rifleman badge! O0 :snipersmi
I'm spreading the word about this great program and will definitely attend again.
Thanks Project Appleseed, Long Meadow Farm, and TFA. :F
Cracked Brass, you held your head high and demonstrated the reason that Appleseed Project has so many volunteers across this nation. To read your remarks is the highest praise an AS instructor can receive. You have proved your mettle and the ability to apply instruction. I hope to see you again soon and photograph your receipt of the Rifleman patch.
Black Knight