Homestead Training Center AAR 2022-04-09

[Planeman]

Patriots' Day came early to Homestead Training Center this year.  The weather was South Florida perfect. Clear, sunny, with crisp cool breezes all day long!  What a personal privilege and honor it was to work with and be amongst such a dedicated group of students and instructors! 

The 13 students were a mix of new shooters with a couple back to finish what they started.  After what seemed like intensive instruction, we shot our first squares target shortly before lunch; two volleys of five rounds and it paid with dividends!  Most all students were shooting well within 8 moa groups and the example target used for IMC from a student was within 3 moa!!

A well-deserved "HUZZAH!" to Megan and Ralph for their dedication and tenacity to stay focused on achieving their Rifleman patches.  It was truly a family affair!  Their perseverance, tenacity and family competitive spirit showed as they inched their way into the riflemen's bubble to meet those goals! 

Danny, Emilio, and Diego, you all were dancing on the edge of success!  I have no doubt, with a little continued dry fire practice, at the next event we'll see all of you with brand-new shiny patches. 

It truly was a well-rounded group with many of you overcoming challenges!  Absorbing all the instructions and putting them to practice.  It showed in your progress!!  It's not always the "loose nut" at the end of the rifle, sometimes it truly is the rifle (equipment issues!).

We started the weekend with formal presentations to Maribel (EagleDoc) taking on and being our newest South Florida cadre orange hat!!

This was followed by Bruce (9MM4545) presenting 10-year pins to Paul (Kinetic Energy), Steve (Quartermaster), and yours truly (Planeman) receiving, my 50-event pin.  At the end of Sunday, Ralph scoring his Rifleman patch, also joined us in the Appleseed mission by taking on his orange hat too! HUZZAH and CONGRATULATIONS!

We ended the day Sunday with the solemn Memorial Volley for our fallen Patriot founders.  It included the playing of a recording of Amazing Grace played on bagpipes during the volley. It was an awesome weekend with new and old friends, lots of laughs, and good fellowship.

My personal thanks to all who helped make this weekend an overwhelming success.  I couldn't have been more blessed with such a dedicated group of instructors and an amazing grouping of students with such willingness to learn.

Here's a link to some pictures of the highlights of the weekend: https://imgur.com/a/4rmeoI9

Please feel free to post more pictures if you have them!!

[9mm4545]

A good time was had by all! The group worked well together and the improvements made were impressive. Janet and I are also impressed by the teamwork and organization of the S. Florida cadre. Well done!

Ralph, you and your family were a pure delight and it was a pleasure working with you. But most gratifying is your stepping up to lend a hand. Thank you.

It's a long haul from N. Florida to Homestead but you can be assured that we will be back every chance we get.

[SFLShooter]

 
Mike and I enjoyed our day! We already signed up for April 30th.  This can be addicting.... {wink}


Hoping to do more of these...I  want   rifleman! 

Cheryl & Mike Blair

[Trident]

Congratulation Maribel (EagleDoc) on taking an orange hat. Way to go!

[Not Sure]

A few Sunday pics from the right side on the line...