Project Appleseed

It was cool, windy, and rainy on Kodiak. Try and act surprised.

Actually after the first few hours on Saturday, the weather limited itself to just windy. And a 15 kt wind endured the rest of the weekend, but it was a zero-value tail wind. Meaning no effect on marksmanship, but still a factor on morale.

Morale: the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.

We were remote enough that we improvised a few things,, but not Morale. This shoot dripped Morale. It dripped Patriotism. This was going to be fun….. After a while you just know when it's going to work,,this is going to work.

You have to love a range that has a creek running across it, and you have to pause while deer take their time grazing across the range.
As the weekend progressed I noticed the shooters and Instructors feeding off each other, each seeming to want more, more info or more challenges. The morale sucking wind etc aside, these/we are a hearty bunch, and I saw nothing but total cooperation, and it's mine not to waste.
It's a beautiful thing we do.

Three new Riflemen,,,but it was so much more. It can be hard at times to "quantify" the students.
One thing really impressed me:  When I hand back scored AQT's,, I look for trends and any encouragements I can give to my shooters. Always wanting to end on a positive note.
The number of 50 point stage-one AQTs was amazing. Truly amazing. These folks know how to shoot offhand. A few years ago I used a 50 point stage-one as a challenge. I can toss 43-47 stage-ones down range all day,, but a 50?  I got tired of scoring 50 point stage-ones. Humbling.

I will admit that I have a soft-spot in my head for Kodiak, I almost moved there. That aside, I think that Kodiak has the potential to be "a thing".
It was the weekend that Appleseed weekends are supposed to be.

And none of it would have happened were it not for the year plus efforts of Instructor Oldmikey. This was his baby, and HE made it work.
Respects Sir.

Kodiak 2018 is in the books. Kodiak 2019?? I'm in.

  --FF

While I would like to take credit for the great shoot in Kodiak last weekend I really can't. The credit goes to all the folks that pitched in to help and the people that came out and shot. Not to mention the extremely professional crew that came down and put on the clinic. Lots of folks talking about next year.Lets do it.

HUZZAH!

Needed longer days and more wind.

Ok, lame attempt at humor aside.  Oldmikey and FourFans planned, arranged, executed another excellent event.  At a new venue.

450bush, and Taka222 were great to work with, as always!

We always talk about how great the students are, but 3 new Riflemen out of 18 first-time Appleseeders!  And a few more who are close.... truly an above-average group.

Good times.