Project Appleseed

I am pleased to announce that mattyice has shot rifleman at Amarillo rifle and pistol club on April 21st 2024 and has asked to take on the responsibility of spreading the message of liberty by taking a orange hat mat has worked hard to get here and has shown the true spirit of a rifleman by getting his own equipment and then showing dedication and commitment by practicing with his equipment at our local range consistently. this was his 3rd clinic and he is happy and excited to help the cause of liberty move forward as he will be joining us for his first worked shoot on may 4th in Midland Tx.

Patriot's Day weekend in Fenton MI was an absolute bonanza of Riflemen.  I cannot recall giving out this many patches at a single event in my tenure as a Shoot Boss:

Brad
Doug
Raffi*
Hardcase*
Drew*
Jerry*
Lesko
Nick*
Shepard
Leadfoot Luke*
George
Turnquist
Scuba Al
Austin*

*New Riflemen

If I forgot someone in there, please let me know - I was scrambling to record names and scores. Congratulations to our newest Riflemen, it was so great to be a part of your experience. I know we had a couple of distinguished scores in there too, but I think you guys have a collection of rockers already!

We couldn't have asked for a better group of Americans to celebrate Patriot's Day with us.  Walt - you get the award for Most Improved over the weekend.  I know this course of fire is hard on the body, and I admire you for sticking it out. Reagan, I can't tell you how proud I was to turn around and see you in Standing position.  I know you were a little bit nervous about it, but you did great with that shorter stock and Miki by your side.  I hope I'm the Shoot Boss who gets to award your Rifleman patch, because you are one of the most promising youth shooters I have ever had the pleasure of working with.  Drew, Mr Rifleman, sir - please bring the rest of the family out, and your coworkers too!

This was a special event for Project Appleseed, as it is every year, commemorating that first generation of Americans who sacrificed so much to establish our Liberties. We come from diverse genealogies, cultures, and backgrounds, but our lineage of freedom is the same - we are descended from dangerous men (and women), and our heritage is rebellion.

This was a special event for our cadre here in Michigan too - we got to celebrate one volunteer completing their journey to become an Instructor, and we got to celebrate another volunteer beginning their journey at the same time.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the amazing group of volunteers who dedicated their entire weekend or sacrificed time, energy, and personal resources to support our event:  Mr. Surplus, Miki, Macula Mamma, Bogie, Pocket Watch, ThreadNLead, MrZeke, Superheat, DoubleDog... we can't do any of the things we do without your dedication and support. Thank you so much for making this happen.

TONS OF PICTURES HERE

Just a couple of pictures from early Saturday morning.

It was a great weekend. It's always fun watching shooters work and strive and achieve the rifleman's badge and clearing a red coat. Those are no small achievements. I did get a real joy out of watching Robert take the time to very calmly clean his rifle on the fourth stage of one of the AQTs. Even with taking the time to clean the rifle he still finished in the 5 minute allotment. Later on the "Dangerous Old People"  (they chose the name) team decisively removed the Morgan's shingle from existence and securing themselves a victory! Hazza! Hazza! Hazza!

Welcome aboard, Riflemen!!  I hope there is a good story behind Derek's name - maybe I'll get to hear it at the next IBC 

It was another wonderful Patriots' Day 2-day Appleseed 25m event at Redbrush Rifle Range near Evansville, IN this past weekend. With 11 attentive students and 7 capable instructors, there was a great atmosphere of learning and appreciation for the history of that day and the marksmanship so valued by those in that history.

We received plenty of sun and fresh air over the bright, windy weekend. By the end of the first day, the events of Patriots' Day had been told and the marksmanship fundamentals had been taught. A legacy Patriots' Day patch was promised to he or she that cleared the Hits Count target, and Adam stepped up to the challenge to claim it.

Sunday presented the same weather, and we answered with a review of the instruction, and AQTs. Along with the traditional Sunday history, we told the additional accounts for Patriots' Day, culminating in the memorial volley. After the volley, we presented all present with the unique patch in the Patriots' Day series for this year, and the Bloody Butchers poster to the heads of each household on the line.

I want to commend Ryland, Jadon, Jon, and Nate for their perseverance over the weekend, so recognized by the William Diamond award. I also wish to commend all the adults, Richard, Elaine, Brian, Bryce, Andrew, Adam, and Mark as well for the same. The well-attended targets from the Volley were presented to Nate and Jadon as the youngest present.

The Rifleman proverbial ice was cracked by a requalification from Geek, and then Adam proved he wanted to do more than clear the Hits Count target and made a 216 Rifleman score!

We finished with a KD activity at 100 yards to show that the lessons from the KD instruction earlier really do apply, and even at 100 yards with both center and rimfire.

Pictures below, please feel free to add your thoughts and your pictures.

Captions:
Indy teaches the safety POIs.
JHB teaches the line commands to the shooters
Alexandra the Great teaches the Hits Count.
The morning firing line x3.
Eye dominance exercise.
Prone steady hold factors with AtG and Geek.
Andrew ran a bolt rifle for much of the weekend for an extra challenge. Huzzah!
Father and son Adam and Jadon hold down the right side of the line.
Third strike under the flags with JHB and the students.
Seated position.
These were the targets at 100 yards. They seem smaller, somehow.
Adam clears the Redcoat. Huzzah!
Several pictures of the ceremony after the volley of handing out the patch for the weekend and thanking all for attending or instructing.
Youth recognition of Ryland and Jon.
Adam shoots the score and becomes Rifleman. Huzzah!
Youth recognition of Jadon and Nate.
The firing line for KD.

Thanks to the Indiana Cadre (represented by JHB, Geek, Indy, Alexandra the Great, Darkfoot, and Sur+Rifle) and Redbrush Rifle Range, as well, for making this event a great one along with all the students.

Pictures - First the Riflemen. More to follow...

Rifleman Mark



Rifleman Joseph



Rifleman Rob



Rifleman Craig



Rifleman Hunter




Riflewoman Ashley - Is that a purple patch??




Hunter get his Distinguished patch - 248!!

Welcome! Look forward to volunteering with you both!!! 

Welcome cannot wait to work with you! 

Way to go!!!  (You know Dorr is a great place to show off your proven skills! 😀)