Palm Bay 04-23
The first "annual" Palm Bay Rifleman's Boot Camp was held at Port Malabar Rifle & Pistol Club (PMRPC) April 9-14. Fourteen students attended from California, Ohio, and Florida. There were thirteen Instructors and two Applecore, from Indiana and all parts of Florida.
Day One, Sunday, began much like a traditional Appleseed Event. Our pace was deliberately slow to allow plenty of time to ensure skills were taught and learned to a deeper level. We did not attempt an AQT this day.
Day Two, again, was pretty much like our regular Appleseeds with emphasis on skills and histories of DOM. A sudden wind/rain event destroyed three pop-ups and forced us to huddle under a small shelter to continue instruction. By the end of the day, the tally board revealed nine students had scored Rifleman. Our Junior shooter Keegan cleared the Redcoat.
Days Three through Five students were offered the opportunity to teach, model, and learn how to run a line. AQTs were repeated alternating with drills tuned to improve shooters' performance and history. "How to Tell the Story" and "What is a Rifleman?" were also covered. On Day Five we mustered at the KD Range so everyone who had a 200/300 zero could attempt the Cold Bore Shingle Shot. Chieflane hit the cold bore shingle for the first time to earn the Morgan's Rifleman patch while two others repeated previous successes.
Tuesday through Thursday the Club allowed us to monopolize the High-Power Range. After the morning muster those who had qualified with a centerfire rifle at 25M were taken to the High-Power Range to learn more about Known Distance shootingâ€"especially how to cope with environmental factors such as gusty wind. ScubaSteve and Sieggie with an assist from SWOFO managed the KD range. Eight scored Rifleman on the KD. Of them, four for the first time. David shot a perfect Distinguished Rifleman score of 50.
Day Six was a mock Appleseed. We ran four AQTs with a different Lineboss and RSOs for each. Each AQT stage was presented by different students. Battle rifles were brought to the line and the solemn 13-round Patriots' Day Memorial Volley ended the live-fire phase of the RBC. We then moved to the Pole Barn to learn more about teaching positions and how to diagnose errors on the line. This was followed by a Line Error Card Drill. We wrapped up with awards and recognition before retiring to the Pavilion for dinner.
All the registered shooters and instructors scored or requalified as Riflemen except the Shootboss (not shooting) One walk-on, Keegan's father, joined us on the line for only two days and did not score. New Riflemen included Jeff, Kevin, Valeri, Keegan, Todd, and Mike.
High Scores on the AQT for the week
Rimfire: David 249, Greg 243
Centerfire: David 244, John 227
Adaptive: Leah 233
Junior: Keegan 217 on his 16th birthday
Most improved: Todd 98 points from 115 to 213
Todd (TGFL) and Valeri (ToLiveDeliberately), having attended multiple Appleseeds, scored Rifleman and took Orange Hats.
Two IITs were promoted. Davidjr to IIT1 and JC/DC to IIT2.
ScubaSteve and Lady Gator assisted by Cheriesgeek made sure we had plenty of good food to eat for our group dinners. Friday evening, we had grilled steak. Before dinner, the Club Appreciation Certificate was presented to PMRPC President, Jim Flynn, for ten years of continued support of Appleseed.
As so often happens, good things must come to an end. We bid our farewells to those departing and the rest of us prepared for the Patriots' Day Memorial Event to follow.
In addition to being a Bluehat and an all-around nice guy, Cheriesgeek is a cook, photographer, and drone pilot. Jay took these photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nMZJHZ65mVdN1DwXtltBvwc9HlCG5ybN
Link to more pictures: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAACtK
Please feel free to add your comments and pictures below.
I had a great time and made a lot of new friends while getting a chance to see some of the 'extended family'. I look forward to a chance to do this again. I learned things I did not expect during this trip. Who would have thought 'The Lord willing....' had nothing to do with water? I appreciate the kindness extended to us by both the FL cadre and this great range. I will see you on the line again.
What a fantastic week it was. I appreciate the efforts of the red hats and green hats.
Thank you for the Accommodations to allow me to shoot adaptive.
Wish I could have come by for the week knocked me out
This was truly a great event! It was great to see all of the instructors and shooters for a full week +. It was fantastic to see some familiar faces again and to meet so many people for the first time. It was wonderful to welcome several to our instructor cadre'.
I'm already looking forward to next year!
Man! What a great week! Had such an awesome time getting to know new IITs and getting to see some friends I haven't seen in a while. I learned a lot and I was finally able to shoot score on the KD. That was an exceptional highlight for me. Thank you for all that attended, and I can't wait to meet up with you all again!
Shell
HUZZAH!
Dennis,
thanks for pulling this together. It was a great success! Any time you can mint new orange hats and see that kind of improvement in marksmanship, you know you done good.
And thanks to all the instructors who turned out for this shoot.
I apologize for not being able to be there, but I was at NRAAM.
I, too, hope this will become an annual event.
tk
Todd 98pts improvement WOW!! Now THAT calls for a resounding Huzzah! ^:)^
Sounds like a heck of a good time. Looking forward to the subsequent "annual" AAR's
This was a great event. TheMenace did an outstanding job keeping things moving and the results speak for themselves. I am looking forward to next year and I love Apeelseed!
I really enjoyed this week, meeting old friend and making new ones. I think next year we will have an Ohio caravan.
Chief
This was my first RBC and it was a blast ad great learning experience. Looking forward to the next one.
It was a really fantastic way to send a week. I has a great time and am thrilled to have met so many new people in the program. I really hope I can make it again next year!