What a great weekend event to finish our 11 days of Liberty at the Big Event. We ended our weekend with 2 new Orange Hats, and a new Blue Hat. Huzzah!
We started our weekend with a rousing First Strike to set the mood for the day. After the Safety Brief, rifles came to the line and the Hits Count target showed we had a lot of room for improvement. We cover the three foundations for marksmanship and the prone position before shooting those dastardly squares. A couple of squares later and some talking target information had us going to lunch. Another great strike story was shared and then IMC. Sight adjusts were made and groups moved where the Point of Aim intended for most... After a couple more adjustments and confirmation targets shot, we were ready to talk about new skills. The crew learned about magazine changes and transitioning to prone. Then they got to test this on a squares target. All looked good. An AQT was posted. The shooters learned new skills and Steady Hold Factors for Sitting and Standing positions prior to engaging the appropriate stage of the AQT. After slowing things down, they finished the AQT by shooting stage 4. Several good scores were made with one person requalifying as a Rifleman. The day's shooting wrapped up with the Hits Count Target. The number so folks that put 3 hits at 200, 300, and 400 went up significantly. Great Work Team! We closed the day out with a benediction that highlighted the difference individual people made on April 19, 1775. As the wind kicked up, we said ado for the day.
Sunday had everyone returning with great attitudes and a hunger for marksmanship and history. The instructor cadre did not leave the shooters disappointed. We started the day with a review of Saturday's POIs. Our first Hits Count target showed us some sleep was a good thing. We engaged those dastardly squares again to confirm zero and made a couple adjustments before shooting our first AQT of the day. Most of the shoots turned in scores that showed our instruction was heard and implemented. By the second AQT on Sunday, 4 people requalifed as Rifleman. During lunch the group learned about KD and what differs when taking shots out to the Rifleman's Quarter Mile. By the end of the day, 2 more AQTs would be shot an a first time attendee, Matt, would become our first new Rifleman of the weekend.
We awarded our shooters with patches and our volunteers with some events-worked pins. Congrats to TLD for 10 events, marathongirl and regularguy both at 25. Well done team. Thank you for your dedication to our program. We also, as mentioned at the top, had some folks step up as volunteers. Jace and Amy answered the call as new volunteers. Jace will take an Orange Hat and Amy a Blue one. Alf is trading in a Blue Hat for an Orange one.
The weekend was closed out by a message about Givers and Takers we may have in our lives. The comparison of Isaac Davis and Ami White from the North Bridge. The impact their individual actions had on the rest of the day were incredible. As Appleseeders, we try to live in the example Isaac Davis gave us.
I want to thank to range, Laramie Rifle Range Club, for letting us use the range. Several of the instructors camped onsite for 11 days. What a great place! I want to give a shout out to the cadre of Captain, marathongirl, ToliveDeliberately, Ridge Walker, jayshoneybunny, B-Line1, Popeye, tophand, Alf, regularguy, wildman57, and Guns&Hoses. You all provided great instruction and coaching for the shooters along with impactful history. You made me proud to be the shoot boss.
Huzzas and thanks to each of you, both cadre and attendees!! You all were fantastic, coming great distances to Laramie: Indiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and even a few from Wyoming... Great to see old friends and meet new ones. Wish I could have spent more time with all you PATRIOTS, and I know that Colonial Shooter is grinning ear to ear. THANK YOU ALL.
M1bzrk
Here are a couple of pics I was able to get of the awards: Some new hats and our requalified Rifleman
Here is a photo of the entire crew at our event.