Project Appleseed

In the week preceeding the Manchester, TN shoot, the Shoot Boss (your humble author) watched the weather closely.  An unseasonable cold snap was looming - potential Winterseed weather arriving early during our Tennessee Fall.  There was even snow on Friday night!  The weather did not disappoint and all our students rose to the challenge!  We met on that bitterly cold morning at the Arnold Air Force Base range with steamy breath and frost on windshields.  Shooters and instructors alike were bundled up against the cold.

We changed things up a bit and moved our meeting spot from the bleachers to just beside the berm, using it as a windbreak.  After check-in, the morning began with a welcome brief and had the pleasure of promoting Booney Stomper's to RED HAT!!      Cheryl (wife of Bluegrass) also accepted a Blue Hat to join the ranks of our Applecore!

Then EddieB told the First Strike of the Match - sharing the events leading up to LTC Smith's march to Lexington and the resulting bloodshed on the Green.  Afterwards, we moved to the firing line to begin instruction.  Af the firing line, students faced their first challenge of the day - the Hits Count target.  There were a few smiles and a few frowns, and one shooter who CLEARED her target right away!  After the first 13 rounds, we buckled down to learn good fundamentals.  Instructors-in-Training EddieB, Bluegrass, Booney, and GTEngineer rocked out most of the instruction like seasoned vets. 

With the cold, we slowed things down a bit and encouraged folks to take breaks.  The restrooms / showers / changing areas adjacent to the range were heated and comfy.  More than a few folks slipped off to warm up - with the full support of our instructors.  We spent quite a bit of time practicing our prone position, dryfiring, and watching our sights/reticles for movement.  Robert and Susan were really focused and it was a pleasure to see how much Susan was learning!  (You should be really proud, Susan!)

Over lunch, Bluegrass told a stirring and emotional rendition of the Second Strike and we moved back to the firing line for more instruction and practical exercise.  We spent quite a bit of time dryfiring and shooting in all the options for seated/kneeling position!  As usual, I was impressed with the Trail Life crew that came out to join us on the line.  Y'all had such great attitudes and were willing to listen while we coached.  Regardless of age, you each are truly gentlemen.    The sun was slipping down fast and with it the temperature, but we warmed things up with a few more promotions:  GTEngineer, EddieB, and Bluegrass all were awarded their Red Hats.  No freebies - each was definitely earned!   

After a quick cleanup, our Instructors met for dinner at a local restaurant... to be joined by the Instructors and shooters from the KD event at Pelham, TN happening just 16 miles away!!  It was a great meeting and fellowship.  In attendance were 26 Appleseeders, including an Senior Instructor, two State Coordinators, three dSBs, six Red Hats, four Orange Hats, and a BUNCH of Riflemen!

Sunday arrived with an extra hour of sleep from the time change.  Shooters arrived wisely bundled up warmer!  We started the day by welcoming a new member to the Appleseed team:  Coleen (Mama-Bear) who accepted an Orange Hat!     (Dave, you need to be catch up to your wife... I have an Orange Hat right here in your size!!)

To our relief, the sun made an appearance and would warm the day up into the high 40s.  Sunday, we started with a quick review and moved to the line.  Using both dryfire and livefire, we practiced yesterdays's learning and learned standing positions.  We did our first AQT right before lunch!  We enjoyed lunch while we heard about the Dangerous Old Men and the team taught some quick lessons about KD.  Thank you to Tracy and Crimson Rose for the wonderful treats!

Also at lunch, we were able to welcome yet another member to the Appleseed team - John (VolunteerPatriot) accepted an Orange Hat to become the program's newest IIT!   

After lunch, we dove into some ball & dummy and couple more AQTs before the light started to fail us.  We wrapped up awarding TWO Rifleman's patches to Steve (brother of Bluegrass) and Steve (with the Trail Life crew.)  Congratulations gentlemen - I hope to work with both of you again very soon!

To all the shooters:  Thank you for coming out.  It was a real pleasure to work with each of you this weekend.  I think I speak for all my fellow instructors when I saw it's our pleasure to serve you.  I hope that you come back and bring a friend - it's the highest compliment you can offer us!

We'll be adding some pictures to this AAR in the next day or so - please feel free to join in the discussion and share pics you took!

in Liberty,
Rusty

P.S.  Our host organization this past weekend was the Highland Rim Shooters Club.  They are stalwart supporters of the program and we are grateful for their commitment to Liberty and the Project Appleseed!


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Here is the link to the Photobucket album with event pictures.  There are more than 200 pictures available!

http://s24.photobucket.com/user/rusty-appleseed/library/2014-11_ManTN

Great weekend, with a great group of instructors.  Mama-Bear has already made hotel reservations for NRA - Nashville 2015!  Yes, I am planning to catch up (dry fire, dry fire, and 1,000's more dry fires).  A big thank you to all that made this weekend a success!

What a tremendous event!!!!

I was overjoyed to have my brother, Steve, attend a Project Appleseed for the first time.  I have been trying to get him out to one since I attended my first event last October (2013).  He enjoyed the event very much and we talked about getting his family out to an event as well.  He has an incredibly busy work schedule, but I'll be looking for an opening to get him into the instructor core.  I was even more jazzed that he shot Rifleman on his second AQT (ever)!

To see Booney Stomper promoted to a Red Hat was heartwarming!  He spends a lot of time working with shooters and is very diligent about safety and the Mission.  He is an example of dedication!

Standing with GTEngineer and EddieB to receive a Red Hat, especially with my wife, brother and most of my AS mentors in attendance was a high honor.  Rusty, SureShotSpartan, & TN Colonel have been extremely supportive and encouraging.  I missed a few other folks being there (Ramblin' Wreck among them) because without the incredible camaraderie of the instructors, IIT's & Blue Hats (Tejas Lady) I have been privileged to meet, I would not have had the experiences that have lead to my passion for AS.  Thank you for your enthusiasm and example.

Another real treat was to see John (VolunteerPatriot) take the Orange Hat.  John is a cousin of one of my best friends and it has been an honor to get to know him, his sons Darcy & Ivey and nephew Killan (who were all at Manchester this weekend).  They are all men who know what they are about.  I expect them, and more family members, to fill out the line again!

Seeing a lady step up and accept an Orange Hat was also very encouraging!  Coleen (Mama-Bear) has a glint in her eye!  Watch for her to be wearing a Red Hat in short order!  I have a feeling Dave (TN.Chaplain) will be wearing one soon, as well!

I was impressed (as Rusty noted) with Susan's diligence.  She exemplified a teachable attitude and persistence.  Robert's group during the exercise on a squares target while learning the standing position was startlingly tight (all five in the black the first time)!  Wow!  I am looking forward to seeing them on the line again soon.

Tracy and Crimson Rose were dedicated and enthusiastic.  Although their hands shook with cold while preparing magazines, they were rock-solid in their Steady Hold Factors!  I predict 2 Rifleman patches in their future!  (The snack was very tasty, thank you!)

They young folks who were out this weekend, Trail Life, VolunteerPatriot's crew and some others were a joy to work with.

Finally, Cheryl (my wife and "General Manager"  ), took a Blue Hat and I am happy she will be working to keep the events in order.  She has a great mentor in Tejas Lady.  Cheryl has a lot of experience running large events at Vanderbilt Unversity Medical Center, so I know she'll be a huge asset wherever she lends a hand.

The cold weather, especially on Saturday, just demonstrated the fine character of the shooters who came out.  Not one of them allowed the weather to define their demeanor.  I was impressed.

I am just honored to be able to participate in Project Appleseed.  I am hoping that I can do my part to recruit as many bailers as possible.

Greg Seneff, Sr.
Bluegrass Colonel
Newbie Instructor

Photos

Here's a link to the rest:  http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/bluegrasscolonel/library/?sort=2&page=1

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I was honored to serve this fine group of American shooters this weekend.  Thanks to all of you who braved the cold weather.  I hope to see you and your friends at a shoot in the future.  Congratulations to Steve for qualifying as a Rifleman, and congrats also to the other Steve for requalifying.  John, Coleen, and Cheryl:  Thank you for taking hats and helping to bail.  Tracy and Crimson Rose, the treats you made were just like my mom's - delicious!

- EddieB

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This past weekend was INCREDIBLE!  Crimson Rose and I still are talking about how much we learned in history and in marksmanship!  We were so encouraged by the kindness and sincere desire to see us succeed that we saw in our instructors.  Booney and Claude worked so hard with us, and I feel so badly that I didn't honor their efforts with getting the Rifleman - but we both plan to remedy that in the very near future!  Perfect practice is happening!  We have been telling everyone about Appleseed, it was such an amazing experience!  This Friday we are wearing our shirts to our huge home schooling cooperative and are going to start setting up a group for a visit from Liberty Seed.  We also really enjoyed seeing the ceremony of the bestowing of hats.  It was so special to see the end results of all the hard work and volunteer hours of those four men.  And then on Sunday to see two orange hats begin their own journey towards red - it was incredible to see the clarion call continue!  Crimson Rose and I are looking so forward to our next Appleseed - to hear the history and to have our sights set on Rifleman!
And to all the instructors that volunteered their time this past weekend.... I can only quote Shakespeare from Twelfth Night "I can no other answer make, but thanks, thanks and ever thanks!"

I want to thank everyone who took the time out of their weekend to join us in the cold to learn about our common heritage and marksmanship!  Congratulations to my fellow instructors who received their red hats and to the two new rifleman (Steve and Steve).  Thank you Tracy and Crimson Rose for the delicious chocolate treat!

All of you have shown great improvement in your marksmanship!  You should all be tremendously proud of yourselves for this achievement, I know I am proud of all of you!

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Saturday night dinner with SB's, Instructors, IIT's, & a Blue Hat.

http://s1339.photobucket.com/user/bluegrasscolonel/library/Project%20Appleseed%20Saturday%20Dinner%202014-11-01?sort=2&page=1

Greg
Bluegrass Colonel
Newbie Instructor

Crimson Rose and I are wearing our Appleseed shirts and talking it up at our home scool cooperative!  As I can't post a pic from my ipad I will try to do so when I get home this afternoon.  There is some talk of getting together a ladies group, or a mother/daughter group. How many do you have to have in order to have an Appleseed?

Here we are advertising Appleseed at our large home school cooperative!

 Good to see a Green Hat setting the example: getting down on the mat with the shooter!   

I've updated the original post to include a link to the Photobucket album for our event.  More than 200 pics inside!!

Many thanks to TejasLady, our awesome Applecore volunteer and photographer!   

http://s24.photobucket.com/user/rusty-appleseed/library/2014-11_ManTN