Project Appleseed

Saturday Oct 11th at the Birchwood Recreation and Shooting Park began with rain and temperatures in the mid 30's.  The sun rose behind the heavy clouds at about 8:30 am as 15 enthusiastic and patriotic Americans checked for a day of marksmanship and heritage.
Shoot Boss fisherdawg was joined by Pete!, eagleriver, 509gman, Medicus, Dave220, LittleJohn220, ericbovee, and Fireweed to the work the event.
After check-in, we conducted the Safety Briefing and Introductions.  Our shooters then engaged the Hits Count / Red Coat Target to evaluate the baseline skills they brought to the line.  One third of the shooters we able to qualify at some distance.
We began the Fire Hose of Instruction to teach the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship:
1. Sling use -- hasty & loop
2. Prone steady hold factors
3. The Six Steps of Firing the Shot
4. Talking Targets -- basic and advanced shot group analysis
5. Inches -- Minutes -- Clicks -- zeroing your rifle's sights
6. Natural Point of Aim -- NPOA
7. Magazine changes
8. Seated / Kneeling Steady Hold Factors
9. Transitions from Standing to Seated/Kneeling & Prone
10. Standing Steady Hold Factors -- Hasty-Hasty Sling
phew, busy day, eh? 
Pete!, eagleriver & fisherdawg told the 3 Strikes of the Match -- lunch and afternoon break
ALL THE WHILE, RAIN CAME DOWN 
It never seemed to dampen the spirits of our shooters -- Isaiah O., Virgal, Dean, Isaiah, Daniel, Susan, Joyce, Jordan,Jay, Joel, Bo, Graham, Olga, Clayton, Jeremy, Justin & Abby.  They all displayed the persistence of Riflemen.  Apply the fundamentals -- and all of you will reach the goal.
We shot the Appleseed Qualification Test and though some were, none score the coveted 210.  We finished with the Red Coat and found 7 qualified shooters.  To see progress on marksmanship in spite of fatigue, cold and rain is the pay Instructors work for!
Sunday brought 10 shooters back to the line including the addition of Ben who had achieve a Rifleman score of 225 at our September event here at Birchwood.
The rain had stopped, but clouds, low fog and cold continued.  No matter, our shooters persisted.
Taka222 joined the crew too.
After a morning reviewing the Fundamentals, we shot a total of 5 AQT's interspaced with NPOA Shift Drils, Time to First Shot Drill and a Team Star Shoot.
Clayton made the score -- 218 (Centerfire) -- on the AQT;
Jordan quickly followed with 216 (Centerfire) followed with a 216 on a loaner 10/22.
The final Red Coat show 7 of 10 qualifying a some distance!   
I was my pleasure to your Shoot Boss at this Appleseed.  I hope all of you will be back soon -- bring one friend -- it will make all the difference.
fisherdawg

Some Day 1 photos (uploading 2 at a time d/t bandwidth restrictions):

2 more:

I remember joking with fireweed's dad that morning; he said "we don't get rain like this where we live" and I asked "like what? Coming straight down?"

And...half are upside down. 

Rather than continuing to monkey with this thread, head over to https://www.facebook.com/sean.ryan.9237/media_set?set=a.4719443600759.1073741846.1734627251&type=3 for more pics, or "Like" Alaska Appleseed here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Appleseed-Alaska/342986245770712 . I made the album public so anyone who is on FB should be able to see it, even if they aren't friends.

I'll try to get photos from the 1 Nov shoot up as well, but my frustration threshold is too low for the forum tonight...

My iPhone is flipping em round right so don't worry bout it.