Crittenden, KY April 10-11 2010

[Mudcat]

Wow, me and XDman just got home. What a weekend! We talked about it all the way home. 23 great citizens cam out on saturday morning for a day of Heritage and Marksmanship. Everyone drank from the Appleseed fire hose of knowledge and drank it right on down, never missing a drop. I knew after IMC and we had some 12 year olds answering the questions right, that we had a smart bunch. A special thanks to Barry for being the BOTG (boots on the ground) for this event he did an amazing job with arranging food  catered for lunch and doughnuts for breakfast. Not to mention all the leg work with getting us set up on the state run range Lloyds Wildlife Management Area. Then bringing so many shooters out to fill the line. Pack 805 was a very very large portion of that line too. They showed that they knew how to shoot.  Thanks Matt for the great burgers and dogs while also shooting on the line and doing a rather good job for a cook . By the end of the day on saturday we 2 Riflemen Chris and Jon  with several knocking on the door. But we had 23 Patriots leave on saturday evening thinking a little differently about their country and our founders.
Sunday morning brought 16 Patriots back with 1 new comer. We started out with a nice prayer meeting led by 12 year old Gage who did a wonderful job. Then review the safety rules and out with a Redcoat again and had some good groups so they had remembered what they had learned the day earlier. Despite the groaning from the sore elbows and ribs. We went into review and then some squares for the ones that needed to do IMC after removing scopes and tightening things down and switching rifles. Then we started hammering out Riflemen on the anvil of the AQT and hammer we did. Jeff was first followed by James and Joe the tick guys. By the way thanks for catching the ticks before they got down to the rest of the line. Then right before lunch when the cook took off to go up and cook everyone lunch he told me he had an AQT for me to score. When we got up to the top of the range for lunch he said he had a daily special. The Mudcat special, 2 burgers, mushrooms, swiss cheese on a long bun with bold and spicy steak sauce on it. I have to give my seal of approval for sure it was good. Then we had some brownies because it was Collins birthday. He had told his family that he wanted to go and shoot an Appleseed on his 10th birthday. So I had to tell a story about Hezekia and it being his birthday on April 19. Then back down the hill for more Rifle work. Mike broke the 210 barrier, then came Joe and James the tick guys. I then scored Matts AQT and lo and behold we had another one. But now I wonder what we are going to do for a cook next time since Matt our cook is now a Rifleman!?

Then a little Parkers revenge with the tick guys winning, but barely over the Dorcey family. Everyone got to see how effective a team can be while firing at the Redcoat target. We do one final AQT and John G breaks through and very deservedly so, this guy knows what it means to persist and persevere. He was wore down and beat but had a big smile on his face. He had beaten the AQT!

Yes we had 8 Riflemen and a bunch of guys and a couple gals that were on the road. The best thing is they all have someone that they can walk the road with. In fact they can all walk the road to Rifleman together since they are all friends .

2 new IITs also come out of this weekend Mike F. and Jon L. They have stepped up to take on the orange hat and start on the road to becoming instructors. Thanks guys !!

I want to thank all of you for a very enjoyable weekend that I will remember for some time. We do several of these shoots a year and we all have a special place where  we really connect with the people. Crittenden and pack 805 has been one for I believe all of us this weekend. I will do all I can to return and work with you all again every chance I get. Thank you all for a very rewarding weekend. Sorry I did not have a camera this weekend my wife thought she needed it worse than I did. Little did she know what I would see.

[jeep45238]

Awesome AS, and great bunch of people baking in the sun together.

Mr. Mudcat did his best to ensure that I had a patch at the end of the Appleseed shoot.  I'm pretty dag-on proud to be able to call myself amongst some of the best rifle shooters in the world - and am looking forward to helping others (and learning quite a bit more myself as well!)

Great weekend, can't wait for next week 

[GarandFan]

What a great weekend.  The weather was nice and so were all the people that attended.  This was my first appleseed as an IIT.  I was a little nervous on sat. morning but that nervousness was short lived.  I attribute that to mudcat and the rest of the IIT's (xdman,brdholman,falcon) knowledge.  If I was unsure about something I knew I could turn to you guys for a quick and correct answer.  So as an IIT just taking his first step on the appleseed trail,  I'd like to say thank you.  I appreciate the help that each and every one of you provided.

The shooters made my job pretty easy.  Every one brought a willingness to learn, had fun, and was safe.  I knew by lunchtime on Saturday that we were going to see some rifleman scores by the end of the weekend.  All in all we had a great bunch of shooters to work with.  The range was great and so was the lunch provided by the boy scouts pack 805.  I'd like to thank all of the scouts and the parents that made that happen.  I'd also like to thank Barry for all of the coordination effort put in to setting up the range as well as just being an all around super nice guy.

Congratulations to all who earned their riflemans patch.  It's not easy, but perseverance pays off.  We had two take up the orange hat and begin their path on the trail.  Congratulations to both Mike F. and Jon L.  If you think earning your riflemans patch feels good, just wait until you spend a weekend as an IIT.  It feels even better.  I look forward to working with our new IIt's and hope to see all who attended again in the future.   

[tick]

I would like to Thank all of you guys for the time and effort you put in. It was the best time shooting i have had in a long time. And I did pick up alot of good info and good history lessons.

[brdholman]

A better first Ky. 2010 shoot would be hard to do. We had a great bunch of shooters and the highest number of Riflemen that I have seen a shoot yet.
Thanks to the shooters for showing up with teachable attitudes. That is the first step to being a Rifleman and contributes greatly to both shooter performance and instructor happiness. Thanks again to those who took an orange hat, you will find it very rewarding. We can really use your help here in Ky.
Thanks Barry for all your hard work, it paid off with a lot of Riflemen. Thanks to all who had a hand in the food preparation, it was great. That was a very nice change from the peanut butter I'm accustomed to. It is also one less thing that the shooters and instructors have to prepare for.
Congratulations Riflemen! It really is an accomplishment to be proud of.  Round up the wives and buddies and find another one to go to. Show them why that little patch means so much to those who have earned one.
This was the first event that I have been to that had a Sunday morning service. I really enjoyed that and think it worked out very well. We were blessed with a very impressive young man to lead it.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much you learn from every event you go to.

[jeep45238]

It never ceases to amaze me just how much you learn from every event you go to.

Hit the nail on the head, to say the least.

Right now I'm a little limited on how many I can help out at, but I'll do what I can when asked 

[dad4boys]

Ok, not much more to add about the GREAT time we all had and all the learnin that was going on.
I was impressed by a really nice bunch of instructors showing a good bunch of guys/girls shooting techniques that upped everyones skill level.
Still floating on a cloud knowing that I've now joined the coveted rank of the Riflemen and also took on the responsibility of IIT.
I also got the go ahead from the wife for next weekends shoot in Carrolton, KY.
So Mudcat, you can get a hold of me with further details.
Thanks again for the memorable experience this past weekend.
There will be more to come with my younger boys.....


Jon L.

[wvmmfalcon]

WHAT AN EVENT. Great history, lots of people, engaged instructors, teachable attitudes, Men, women, families, good food, very high percentage of Riflemen. All those things make for an enjoyable shoot. It is great for the instructors to be able to teach something then watch as the students put it to use. Then there is the individual coaching where you can see as bad habits are broken, new good habits are formed. I drove a ways but it was well worth it. I want to thank everyone who attended. The shooters may not realize that even though they feel very good after an Appleseed, that the instructors get a really good feeling in seeing the student/shooters evolve and progress. I hope to see everyone in the future. Falcon

[Kentuckian]

Mudcat, GarandFan, XDMan, Brdholman, Falcon thanks again for the great job you guys did with the Crittenden Appleseed.  I've been working to get to my first Appleseed for about a year now.  It was great fun with great people and just super instruction.

I really enjoyed meeting the scouts.  Thier burger lunches were welcome and what a fine job one of them did offering a service for us Sunday morning.

Being out with such solid people... hearing the stories of what our fellow citizens did to buy us the freedoms that we take so for granted was just inspirational!  It certainly refreshed my passion about being an American!

I sincerely feel that I took away from AS skills that I will use and hone for the rest of my life.  By the end of the AS my groups had more than cut in half .  I feel very fortunate to have been able to shoot several rifleman targets.  But, you know what is more fun? ... knowing that there is so much more improvement left to do and being equipped with the tips to practice with to get there.

My wife has started saying that she thinks she made a mistake not coming along and has asked me if I'd take her to an AS sometime.  It looks like we'll run into you guys on a line somewhere soon.

...the other half of the "Tick" team.

[Mudcat]

Falcon I was beginning to wonder if you had made it back home yet? Glad to see you made it. It was very nice to have you on the line. I have always said that the more places and Shoot Bosses an IIT or even IT can work with the more well rounded they will become. I am glad to you doing that.

Dadforboys glad you made it on here too. I will be sending a PM you way this evening. You and your son were great to work with it is nice to see you and your son interacting and celebrating. That my friend is what makes this so great. 2 ear to ear grins. A little persistence and and dedication and Tyler will be a Rifleman too. Just don't let him give up but above all keep it fun for him.

Kentuckian, you may be on brain over load we were in Crittenden , not Carrolton. lol. Told you guys it was like drinking from a fire hose. Seriously you and Joe did an awesome job down on the left side of the line. Bring the wife for sure she will love it. most think it is a macho man testosterone filled weekend. Little do they know we can make Riflewomen just as easy and they too will have a good time.

To everyone be sure and remember that seventh step. Tell you neighbors, friends relatives even the ones that live across the country. Chances are there is an Appleseed close by for them to get the same experience we all have gotten. 

[Kentuckian]

  oops... just caught that myself.  Only 2 hours sleep last night and it shows...  I edited it quickly!  I sure don't want to take anything away from the fine folks of Crittenden!

[GarandFan]

I just want to make a quick apology to everyone who attended who didn't show up in the pictures.  As this was my first AS as an IIt I was trying to focus more on my shooters as opposed to looking through the camera lens.  I know everyone would like to be able to log on and see themselves on the firing line.  I will work on this in the future.  I also want to apologize for the huge pictures, need to work on my camera settings.  Thanks to all of you who posted comments.  It means a lot to the instructors to see these comments and gauge how we did.  I hope to see all of you again either as an orange hat, or as an individual practicing your skills and maybe bringing someone new.  Until then keep practicing and spread the word of the Appleseed project. 

[jeep45238]

Garandfan, don't be so hard on yourself - I thought you did a fine job myself 

[jeep45238]

Thought I'd give you an update on one of our fellow Appleseeders (she is the Chinese US Army Reservist).

Last year, she could not qualify with a military issue M16 or M4 with iron sights.  She used over 100 rounds attempting to zero her rifle, and then began to ask others who had finished for ammunition to continue zeroing her rifle or to actually attempt a qualification.  This topic came up as we were talking in the hallway after our pre-calculus exam, and I showed her some youtube videos of some Appleseed events and some of the pistol competitions that I do.  Her eyes immediately lit up like a 100 watt spotlight.  She immediately started asking for details, how much it would cost to participate, and was waiting in intense anticipation throughout the rest of our classes.  That was pretty neat to see 

She attended the Crittenden, KY Appleseed on April 10-11.  On the first day she shot with a loaner rifle with a scope, and the second day a loaner rifle that had iron sights.  She originally was barely able to keep some shots on the paper.  Near the end of Sunday, almost every shot was within the correct target on her AQT.  Nice little bit of improvement   

On April 17-18 she was at Camp Erie with her unit qualifying, one week after an Appleseed shoot, and armed with the knowledge of the foundations of individual marksmanship, and some helpful reminder documents for her to review and share with her fellow soldiers.

She successfully qualified, and was extremely ecstatic.    She told her captain about Project Appleseed, and the captain is extremely interested in shooting with us, as are quite a few her fellow soldiers.  I told her of the various shoots going on in Ohio, along with those in surrounding states.  Sounds like we'll probably have a great opportunity for some 7th stepping

Brought a big smile to my face, and I'm sure that you would like to know. 

hey~~ I qualified at the range!!!! hahaha .....
I was wrong about the range's name is acturally Camp Erie, by the lake Erie... ...
was so damn windy and cold by the lake!!!!!! 35 degrees with 500 mile wind!!---feels like..
but I qualified!!!! so happy...

where is the two Appleseed shoots at next month???
I told my Cpt about you guys and she said she would like to come and shoot with us. and so as other soldiers.
let me know...

we just got notified that most of us are deploying, so, I think there will be quite a few ppl want to get some practice on shooting. LOL

thank you.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[hawkhavn]

Mike,

She has a copy of the Ft. Stewart shoot report right?
http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=12254.0

HH

[jeep45238]

Off-limits for me sir - so I have no idea.