A very experienced crew of Maryland and Virginia instructors (461 shoots instructed combined!) came together to work with 11 shooters for a rare weekday Appleseed rifle clinic at the NRA Range in Fairfax Virginia.
We had a group of 9 interns from the Leadership Institute - a non-profit in Arlington Virginia that teaches people how to be engaged in government - and a grandfather-grandson team. Most of the participants were brand-new to firearms with some never having touched one before. So we worked hard to establish comfort and familiarity with the rifles they would be using, checking for eye dominance, and other factors to enhance their success.
After covering the morning preliminaries and safety brief, we shot the first Hits Count (Redcoat) target and right away we had TWO beginner shooters with loaner rifles clean the target and earn their Virginia State Patches: Rebekah and Trahyger. Huzzah!
We then started the core instruction and squares target, progressing through steady hold factors in the prone position, six steps to firing a shot, natural point of aim, inches-minutes-clicks, and other topics before lunch time. Groups were strong from the beginning and only minimal sighting adjustments were required. Talking targets made quite an impact - these
At lunch Senior Instructor Wolfhound delivered a rousing and tearful First Strike which was followed up by Fireman1974 presenting his newly minted Second Strike. Lots of questions from the participants showed they were highly engaged with the material.
After lunch, we taught the seated and standing positions, as well as transitions, on the Green practice targets. Both positions showed students making breakthroughs, with standing looking particularly strong for most participants.
We then shot the only Appleseed Qualification Test (AQT) of the day. Rebekah once again showed an amazing amount of skill for first time shooting a rifle and earned her Rifleman patch with a score in the 220s - Huzzah! Trahyger came oh-so-close with a very solid 203. He was done in by a malfunction in the seated position where he only got a few rounds off. Every participant had some good stages and impressive groups at times but it is difficult to put everything together at a first event.
The final Red Coat of the day showed considerable improvement with 5 participants getting all 3 shots in the 300 or 400 yard targets and 4 hitting the shingle. Rebekah completed her perfect day by cleaning the target one more time. That is mighty fine shooting.
After clearing the line and cleaning up the range ahead of another group coming in after us, Catch-10-22 delivered the Third Strike and Benediction/Call-to-Action. And, of course, we awarded patches. In addition to the previously mentioned Rifleman and Virginia State Patches, youth shooter Wyatt earned the "classic" William Diamond patch through his safe participation and great effort - Huzzah!
Finally, we awarded a 75-shoot pin to Messer and a 25-shoot pin to Tredian at the event - thank you for your long-term commitment to Project Appleseed. I am grateful to the seven instructors who made this a priority on a Monday and faced infamous DC Beltway traffic on the way to and from the range (some traveling ~3 hours each way).
Thanks again to the NRA Range for hosting us and closing the range for the day (to the chagrin of several members). I would like to thank our participants for making the day so rewarding for instructors. As volunteers, the "payment" we get for these events is your enthusiasm, marksmanship progress, and ongoing commitment to keeping this nation free. We got paid in full for sure! We would love to have you at a future event, perhaps back in the state you are originally from or later in the summer.
I will post photos as soon as I receive them.
We had a good day with some great students! Everyone of them showed interest in the history and improvement on the firing line!
I hope to share the range with them again.
Here are some pics...
Wyatt earning the William Diamond patch.
(https://i.imgur.com/cwL8jNE.jpeg)
All the students and most of the Instructors.
(https://i.imgur.com/LJRRmXX.jpeg)
Trahyger receiving the Virginia Cadre patch from The Wolfhound and Catch-10-22.
(https://i.imgur.com/Gnph96W.jpeg)
Rebekah earning her Rifleman & Virginia Cadre patches from The Wolfhound and Catch-10-22
(https://i.imgur.com/tTQ9YBZ.jpeg)
Huzzah - Huzzah-Huzzah to everyone!