Project Appleseed

High winds and a flag at half mast

The attendees arrived in a timely manner, which is a great way to begin an event - just ask any shoot boss. 

A bright, calm and crisp November morn met the instructors and attendees alike at the Hernando Sportsman's Club on Saturday. Our sponsor at the HSC, Mark Rials had set the clubs flag at half mast to honor the brave souls who were slain at Fort Hood recently. It stood as a grim reminder to all that evil does walk the earth to this day.

There were some new faces and some "repeat offenders" coming thru the admin area with no shortage of smiles. I never tire of that feeling of anticipation - what will this event bring? We had 22 pre-registered, 6 no-shows, and 7 walk ons, resulting in 23 rifles on the line. What the stats don't show is the warm "family" feeling to our Appleseeds events here in the Sunshine State. 

Among the first to arrive were Terry and Stephanie - a couple that are as pleasant to be around as they are determined to make Rifleman and become instructors - always a pleasure you two! Firm handshakes from Doug and Sean - huggs from Clinnon. Curt was back for another crack at that dastardly AQT. Bryan - good to see you agin sir. Richard and Nelinda in matching attire make any event look better. Our newest IIT, Peter, brought Jason back, or was it the other way 'round? I know there were others that I remembered at the time, but I am 50 now and well, you know how that goes - please forgive me if I have left anyone out.

In keeping with our new tradition here, we started at 9:AM sharp, which serves to afford all the best possible opportunity to acquire the traditions of their ancestors in the short time allotted. All were immersed in the Heritage as our resident expert RickB regaled us with his own version of the First Strike. For thems unaware, RickB has a serious education in history and it is all he can do to remain with in the strict time limits imposed by the program, forcing him to leave so many fascinating details out of his presentation. If you wish to know anything about our Rev War history - just ask RickB - we're lucky to have him in the program.

After a thorough safety briefing and a cleared line, all were sent to the target line to post their Recoats and squares in the fine Appleseeds tradition. The Redcoats proved our work was cut out for us, but like our ancestors before us, we would persist until becoming "masters of our muskets!"

Instruction and squares, instruction and squares, more instructions and more squares! - the pace was relentless. The layers of Rifleman knowledge added one upon the other, with only five rounds in between each module. Will these crazy instructors ever break for lunch? 

Finally, lunch came and for them that were less prepared, there was lunch from "Chez Tammy" right there at the range - holy cow! Chicken sandwiches with real sauteed onions. Fresh burgers with all the fixins and only 10 paces from the line! As the hungry shooters gobbled their goodies, I finished my own so that I could regale them with the Second Strike of the Match. Nothing like some Heritage for desert to settle a fine meal!

With lunch over, it were back to maintaining the tradition of marksmanship. Back to the line and introduction to the "Time Monkey"!  NPOA, Rifleman's Cadence - will it ever end? Don't these RWVA guys have a heart? These new positions are murder on the joints! 

Up went the green CAQT targets to prepare the shooters for the test which separates the Rifleman from the "Cooks". As the day progressed the wind picked up from a pleasant breeze to maddening howl of gusts that were flipping mats end over end - rifles and all, but we just kept at it! 

I never heardt a single complaint. What a great bunch of Americans. Breathing the yellow dust of the HSC, we all focused on the task at hand. A 15 minute break was all we could afford before posting the QDAQT - the Quick and Dirty Army Qual Target. ItsanSKS snuck in the Third Strike during the short break - 'cause real Americans always make good use of their time right? 

The shooters only got one chance at the AT on Saturday at least partly because I talk too much during demonstrations and any other chance I git.  Regardless, we had ourselves two Riflemen! Curt had done it - way to go sir! And what have we here - persistence really does pay off - Doug got his patch too! Well deserved I might add. There were also several "honorable mentions" - scores getting so close to 210, that 210 could feel the breath on its "neck. After a lengthy Benediction speech by yours truly - we all pitched in to clean up the range and made our way to our accommodations for the night.

Back at it bright and early Sunday morning with a much lower than normal attrition rate - only losing a few shooters (These Floridians are a tough bunch!). We even gained one - Bryan's daughter Breanne was back for her second crack at the AQT! With a glint of determination in our eyes we all embarked upon that time-honored journey toward becoming Riflemen.

The wind was worse - the pace even faster than the day prior, but undaunted the rounds went down range - by the numbers. The scores were coming up - the improvement unmistakable.

The first AQT began at 1250 hours, and was followed by another and another and another - oh no! Could it be - yes, it is! It's the dreaded "AQT grind".  Owing to the best staff a shoot boss could hope for and some real Americans with obvious grit - the AQT grind has now come to Florida. No less than six AQTs were shot on Sunday along with Full Distance shooting for three HP shooters who wanted to see if what we teach at 25M really works out to 200M - it did.  <

I was "forced" to conduct yet another brief ceremony at the conclusion of this event by a woman of tremendous grit and persistence. When I called Clinnon's name, she looked at me in total astonishment (those dirty rotten instructors had kept her score a secret). She teared up as she walked toward me and when she arrived, called out the name of her mentor - "Jacqui - girl this one is for you!" (Maddam Yottnottin on the forum). Maddam Yottnottin passed away a few days after Clinnon's last event in Bradford, where she had spent some time working with Clinnon one on one and improved her scores greatly. I could barely keep my own eyes dry.

What a great group - I truly cannot think of any better way to spend a weekend than to be surrounded by people who care about their country enough to actually do something for it. God bless each and every one of you. I know that I speak for all of my fellow instructors when I say it was an honor and a privilege to spend time with you.

Well, with a great team effort, we got the range cleaned up to look even better than it did when we arrived and the safe rifles were packed away. Several shooters purchased RWVA memberships in preparation to purchase a CMP Garand at half price. Heartfelt thanks and warm handshakes were aplenty as we all prepared to leave.

Our club sponsor, Mark Rials is the man of vision who afforded us our first chance to run an event at the HSC. He brought the idea before the board of directors and stuck his neck out for us. He has worked 8 events to date and has shewn tireless assistance to our worthy cause. Mark also sponsors other events at the club and having served his time, is passing the mantle of sponsorship to one of our own Appleseeders - panhead, who has stepped up to become a member and Range Officer at the HSC specifically to that end. My hat is off to you sir - you are truly a gentleman and I am proud to know you.

Another great weekend and another step closer to saving our country - Appleseeds!

The pleasure has been mine pHenry!  You have earned my admiration and respect.
You're a class act and the program is lucky to have your grit and determination.

Photo's are posted at:

http://www.hernandosportsmansclub.com/images/events/appleseed/Nov09/index.html

Mark

P.S. pHenry, you'll particularly enjoy the last photo.

yep

Many thanks to you Mark. I attended the first Appleseed held at Hernando due to your hard work and sponsorship. I will be there for many more. Good luck with your other projects, I know I'll be seeing you.

My thanks to everyone who took the time to come out and learn a bit about themselves and their country, and about the way it is, or should be run. They work for you folks, don't let 'em forget. They like hearing from you, they just pretend they don't 

Thanks to the HSC staff, they came through like champs again. Sounds like a broken record, but they are so good to us it hurts.

Many thanks to Steph for the special lunch she brought for the 'seed crew. Now I understand one more reason why Terry is a happy guy.

A good time with great Americans... 

One Great Appleseed......

A little more of Hernando...more to come....

Wow, Trey.  You really got to me on your post.  Its soo hard to think Jackie is not here anymore.  I only met her for one weekend, but she really left an impression on me. Wow, nice post.

Quote from: PHenry on November 09, 2009, 06:00:50 PM
High winds and a flag at half mast
I was "forced" to conduct yet another brief ceremony at the conclusion of this event by a woman of tremendous grit and persistence. When I called Clinnon's name, she looked at me in total astonishment (those dirty rotten instructors had kept her score a secret). She teared up as she walked toward me and when she arrived, called out the name of her mentor - "Jacqui - girl this one is for you!" (Maddam Yottnottin on the forum). Maddam Yottnottin passed away a few days after Clinnon's last event in Bradford, where she had spent some time working with Clinnon one on one and improved her scores greatly. I could barely keep my own eyes dry.

Let me tell you about a determined Lady I know.

I first met Clinnon at the April 19, 2009 AS at the Hernando Sportsman Club. She was shooting a Mini 14 with mag problems, so she did not have a good weekend. We exchanged telephone numbers so we could make arrangements to meet again at out local range. We have since become good friends.

When next we met she was sporting a new Ruger 10-22 with good glass on top. We shot a couple of hours and she said that she was having a hard time getting her head high enough to see through the scope easily. I told her about there being pads one can put on the cheek of the stock to aid with that problem. So she went to a local sporting goods store and had an elastic sleeve and pad put on the cheek of her gun. She told me that the guy that put the sleeve on the rifle told her that he had to remove the scope to put it on the rifle.

At our next two practice sessions she had problems with shot gun patterns. She had been using one brand of ammo before this and was now using another. So she went back to what she had been shooting before and the groups tightened up, but not to what I had seen her shoot before. When we go to the range we time each other, just as we are timed at the AS, so we put that time monkey on our backs. She has shot a Rifleman scope at our practice sessions so I knew she could do it.

I had a failure with my rifle, so I just sat and observed. About half way through Sundays shoot, she was still having problems, and I could read that she was frustrated, even tho she said words to the contrary. After firing a string she exclaimed that her scope was loose. I had her set out the next cycle, and with the OK of the Shoot Boss, I removed her scope from the base rail. I found that the local sporting goods store had removed the scope rail and had not put back on securely. I took up 1 1/2 turns on one screw. After tightening the rail and remounting the scope, she sighted it in for a proper POA=POI.

When PHenry says the wind was blowing he was not kidding. The targets were moving up and down by as much as 3". Despite all of her frustration caused by equipment problems and poor shooting conditions, Clinnon kept right on. Giving her a break, I took her target up to the Instructors to scope it for her. When I went back to see how she did, RickB said she shot a 225, and asked I not tell her.

So, playing dumb about the score, I continued to encourage her. Keeping a straight face was a hard thing to do. I knew she had made it and I was beaming inside knowing how proud she was going to be. She then shot a 206, then she shot a 211 score. She shot two Rifleman scoring targets!

To say she was shocked when she heard her name called out is putting it mildly. She did a double take and PHenry had to call her name again. There were tears in her eyes when she accepted her hard earned Rifleman patch. After returning to her station she exclaimed that she was "So proud of winning this."

I am proud to know this Lady. I am a better person for knowing her. I pray there never comes a time when I would need someone to cover my back, but I would trust this Lady in a heart beat to do so.

We need something a little different for the Ladies of AS; we need a "RIFLEWOMAN" patch.

Fellow Americans,

I, too, was inspired by Clinnon's story, and impressed with Curt's performance as was my brother and father-in-law. We had an exceptional time. I found the instructors to be informative and accommodating especially when my father-in-laws back went out. The information and instruction exchanged for the price of admission is the bargain of a lifetime. The encouragement I felt was only second to the duty that was instilled in me. I started reporting others about the event Saturday evening and on the way home Sunday night via my Blackberry. When I returned home to my family, I went on and on with my wife about the great experience we had and I think she is willing to come with me, my eldest daughter and son next time.

Extraordinary people came together to birth this nation and it will take extraordinary people to keep liberty alive. I met a line full of them this weekend. I look forward to returning properly equipped, tightened up, sighted in, stretched out, a few pounds lighter, and in the company of more family and more friends.

My hat is off to the Instructors, the facility, and to Mark for making the event possible.

DF

Agreed!

This was an excellent event.  My brother and I had a great time and we look forward to attending future events!  Thanks to all who made it possible!

Wiley

I, too, had an incredible weekend.

I started out by being 100% humbled.  I desperately needed that.  As a perfectionist IT professional, it was critical to getting me to have a teachable attitude.

On the first Redcoat target, I got 1 shot on the paper, and hit no targets.  Yes, I shot a big old ZERO!!

I kept going, somewhat frustrated that there was not enough time to correct my serious shooting errors.

Mid-afternoon I was still shooting terribly.  I was so frustrated with myself that I was ready to go home and sell my rifles!  I was done. 

Then about 2:30 in the afternoon (epiphany) BrownBess suggested that I switch from the ghost-ring sight on my AR to the peep-site.  BOOM!!! The lights started coming on. Shots started hitting targets!

Within 1 hour I went from slop shooting to shooting reliably at the 200-yard target, and I got the head shot!!

I closed the day with an 86 on my AQT.

The next morning the first AQT was up to 130.  Still have other suggestions to apply.

Woke up Monday hurting from my neck to my heels --- but MAN was this worth it!!!

Looking forward to the next AS.

Excellent job, Gents and Ladies.

My brother and I had a fun, very productive time. We might have done a little better had we read up AND FOLLOWED the "what to bring" info. A cleaned, broken-in, sighted rifle is definitely a plus. Still have two bam-bams from where my elbow pads should have been. Dry firing, and rehearsin' in between.

Thanks again to everyone, we'll be back, and we're bringing friends!

-GS