Ladies and gentlemen, TROOP 4 IS IN THE HOUSE!
Well they were, anyway ;D
For two days the young men of El Paso Boy Scouts of America, Yucca Council, Troop 4, engaged with Project Appleseed volunteers and learned about our unique history and heritage, firearm safety, and the fundamentals of Rifle marksmanship. 14 boys, 5 parents, and one little sister ;) persisted and learned and got tired and persisted some more. They answered history questions I've never heard an adult have the answers to (who expects an eleven-year-old to know what the Quartering Act was???) They had enthusiasm, high spirits, and some friendly rivalry. My gratitude to the Senior Patrol leader and the older boys for helping us keep everything moving along. Our range was quite literally wall to wall!
While we're on the subject.... On behalf of our team and Project Appleseed, I'd like to express gratitude to our hosts, the El Paso Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy: Director Mr. Barry Bogle, Range Master Mr. Dean Kinder, and facility RSOs Jason, Mike, and Alex. They went above and beyond to make sure the facility was in perfect order and that we had access to everything we needed, when we needed it.. The Academy has been our most generous hosts for many years, and they absolutely NEVER fail to come through for us. Gentlemen, thank you. :bow:
In attendance this weekend were:
Scouts:
Colby P. (SPL)
Nick F.
Luis L.
Aiden K.
Rowan P.
Jose D.
Amir A.
Santiago M.
Orlando R.
Jesus V.
Jose L.
Victor M.
Fabian M. Jr.
William L.
Special guest: Zoe R.
Parents:
Cory P. (aka Colby's dad)
Fabian M. (aka Fabian's dad)
Ryan P. (aka Rowan's dad)
Artemisa R (Saturday - Orlando and Zoe's mom)
Roberto R. (Sunday - Orlando and Zoe's dad)
Staff:
LoanerRifle
Waco Kid
Moon Clip
Super Mario
LateByProxy
Young Patriot
Carlos
Mr. Smith
Mahamotorworks
and of course.....
:pics:
The group!!!
(https://i.imgur.com/cy8RRNq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1nGXFlJ.jpg)
Classroom time, learning the fundamentals so they can implement them.
(https://i.imgur.com/qW13al8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kZQNmGk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/smPUYZ2.jpg)
Young Patriot demonstrates sling use while Maha instructs
(https://i.imgur.com/AFUAQuU.jpg)
Prone!!
(https://i.imgur.com/yYOL8dT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DQuEdxc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Lim5rlT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hpc5x1P.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SVuPFEH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yOkSjT8.jpg)
Seated!
(https://i.imgur.com/JjkNGPg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/a0LJ302.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rZr3zIm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NlQ38QI.jpg)
Moon Clip and Young Patriot coaching Victor and Fabian on the intricacies of Seated
(https://i.imgur.com/bH43D3i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3OwAFAk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tRetaJ4.jpg)
Let's try kneeling
(https://i.imgur.com/IAuQ62j.jpg)
Father and son rivals Cory and Colby working on their seated position. Who will come out on top?
(https://i.imgur.com/FIRzhr0.jpg)
Gigi and Jesus trying out their options
(https://i.imgur.com/JPVpeAc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NlQ38QI.jpg)
Ready to transition!
(https://i.imgur.com/3X13zSj.jpg)
Standing!
(https://i.imgur.com/ANmsAyh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2uPKokC.jpg)
LateByProxy and Super Mario coach Luis and Nick in a solid standing position
(https://i.imgur.com/bXGJhg6.jpg)
At the end of the weekend we'd knocked out four Appleseed Qualification Tests, and forged one NEW RIFLEMAN! Who could it be?? :cool2:
But first, tear down and cleanup. The boys got to work and they left that beautiful range spotless, helped the instructors get their loaned rifles to their vehicles, and helped tear down the classroom.
The senior Scouts striking and folding Old Glory
(https://i.imgur.com/3xn1vNF.jpg)
The boys also folded and stowed our Appleseed flag and the rest of our Flag Tour.
(https://i.imgur.com/nmw3xEu.jpg)
A moment of recognition for Troop 4's newest Eagle, Nick here with his proud Dad, SuperMario. Huzzah!!!
(https://i.imgur.com/HsJIxFk.jpg)
Now for the best part!!!
THREE of their number cleared the Hits Count target, and earned themselves a Battle of Saratoga quarter in the process!
Luis, Nick, and Cory, General Daniel Morgan and Timothy Murphy would be pleased!
(https://i.imgur.com/m4o74YV.jpg)
For fun, on the last AQT of the weekend we dusted off a set of red targets, to help get those tired boys fired back up again. And did it ever work!!! Our new Rifleman is.... dun dun DUN!!!
Colby! Who now officially has bragging rights on his old man :cool2: Well done, Colby! Huzzah!
(https://i.imgur.com/WUjymQK.jpg)
The Scouts, accompanied by former Troop 4 Eagle Young Patriot, with their William Diamond patches, their Road to Rifleman Certificates, and what I hope are many good memories of their Appleseed weekend. Gentlemen, we salute you. It gives us hope for the future that young men such as yourselves will be a part of it.
(https://i.imgur.com/gXR5Y1l.jpg)
The final tally of improvement over the four AQTs they engaged:
Amir - 26 point increase
Jose D - 59 point increase
Nick - 22 point increase
Aiden - 35 point increase
William - 55 point increase
Luis - 43 point increase
Jose L - 49 point increase
Victor - 36 point increase
Santi - 83 point increase
Fabian - 15 point increase
Colby - 58 point increase
Rowan - 76 point increase
Orlando - 31 point increase
Jesus - 57 point increase
Zoe - 32 point increase
Cory - 41 point increase
Fabian Sr - 55 point increase
Ryan - 19 point increase
Roberto - 70 point increase
Gentlemen! (and Zoe :) ) Riflemen persist!
See you in January? :cool2:
Congratulations all, on a very successful weekend of sharing our liberties with so many awakening folks.
Looks and sounds like Y'all had a wonderful time!
..."till we meet again.",
Jerry