Positive Appleseed Article in Bloomington's Herald Times

[techres]

Rep's to Hawkhavn for doing this successful interview:  (link requires paid membership, so article quoted in full)

Sharpshooter trains National Guard soldiers
The Appleseed Project aims to improve members' marksmanship skills

By Bethany Nolan



BLOOMFIELD -- The tiny business card Ed Yeager hands out has all the usual accoutrements: name, phone number, Web site. But on the back is a dark square, one inch by one inch.

That's one of the target goals for riflemen involved in the Revolutionary War Veterans Association's Appleseed Project, which aims to teach advanced marksmanship skills to anyone who wants to learn. (That minuscule square? You're supposed to be able to hit it at 25 yards using a GI sling and iron sights from a prone position. Five times.)

Yeager, a 46-year-old Bloomfield resident, has been interested in target shooting nearly all his life.

He shot in high school in Daviess County, and was a member of the Sycamore Valley Gun Club. Back in 2006, he ran across an article about the Appleseed Project and visited a shoot in Evansville. He was quickly hooked by the program, which meshes marksmanship training and a sense of how important sharpshooters were to America's tumultuous creation.

Yeager became an instructor for the program and, in that capacity, recently traveled to Fort Stewart, Ga., for a week to train South Carolina National Guard troops before those citizen soldiers deployed overseas.

"One of our instructors is active duty military," he said. "He'd run his unit through one of our courses and their marksmanship improved. Word got around."

Volunteer instructors like Yeager paid their own way to Georgia, which piqued the interest of the Guardsmen. Then, interest skyrocketed as the citizen soldiers saw their own skills increase during the training, he said.

Yeager said instructors typically set a "baseline" at the beginning of the exercise, and then have participants take aim at those same targets at the end of the program to see how much they've improved.

Skills taught include how to properly use a sling -- or strap -- on a rifle. "It's an excellent steadying tool," Yeager said. "And it's a skill not a lot of people are taught anymore."

There are also tips on breathing (regulate it so your body's movements don't interfere with your shot) and natural point of aim (which sounds complicated, but essentially involves making your body comfortable so you can shoot better).

Those tips may sound simplistic, Yeager said, but "when you're shooting at something hundreds of yards away, every little bit counts."

Although most events are conducted at a lesser range, participants are taught fundamental skills that allow them to be accurate to 500 yards, a length traditionally known as the "rifleman's quarter mile."

The Appleseed Project said the National Guard unit's average improvement was nearly 300 percent over what its members had previously experienced.

"For regular citizens, this is kind of a fun skill," Yeager said of the marksmanship training. "But for those guys, being able to make the shot when they need to, it's a matter of survival."



Find out more: Visit the Appleseed Project on the Web at The Appleseed Project

Thanks for this Hawkhavn!

[Old Glory!]

Excellent!     Nice article Hawk!

[techres]

Is there still an "Appleseed in the Press" thread?  If so, this needs to go into it!

[Another D.O.M.]

Very cool!  It's nice to see some positive in the news every once in a while; and even better when it's for us.

I've PDFed the article for printing & distribution - see attachment.

Great job Hawkhaven & the entire Ft. Stewart Appleseed team!

[Fred]

    Yes, it's on the Home Page under "NEWS" - and it certainly needs to go there.

    I'd also post it on the Ft Stewart thread, and on any PR thread we have.

    I'm thinking this can go into a "Press Kit" we may ultimately be sending out about this program, to show the media what can be said about this program.

    I'm also wondering what kind of internet exposure we can get with this. What's the etiquette for posting this on other forums? Or at least, linking to it?

[Fred]

    PS: Nice shot of Hawk in his new AS "golf shirt".

[Fred]

    PPA: Thanks A-DOM for being fast off the mark with a pdf version!

[techres]

    Yes, it's on the Home Page under "NEWS" - and it certainly needs to go there.

    I'd also post it on the Ft Stewart thread, and on any PR thread we have.

    I'm thinking this can go into a "Press Kit" we may ultimately be sending out about this program, to show the media what can be said about this program.

    I'm also wondering what kind of internet exposure we can get with this. What's the etiquette for posting this on other forums? Or at least, linking to it?

That's already begun on the IN forums. 

[techres]

I'm also wondering what kind of internet exposure we can get with this. What's the etiquette for posting this on other forums? Or at least, linking to it?

We are just "doing it":

INgunowners.com - Posted! (Link).  (Video Posted As Followup)
AR15.com - Posted! (Link).
Hoosier Gun Club - PM Sent.
OhioCCW - Posted! (Link).

Each thread should begin with the article alone.  Then as interest occurs, a link to the youtube video will be added for the "BAM!" effect.

[PHenry]

Nicely done Hawk.

[Another D.O.M.]

I'm also wondering what kind of internet exposure we can get with this. What's the etiquette for posting this on other forums? Or at least, linking to it?

I've sent a copy of the article to the NYSRPA for their newsletter and web site...

[techres]

Ohio CCW thread up now too.

[techres]

I have made a flyer using info from the news report.  The PDF is too big to attach here (3.9 MB).  These are pictures of it that I was able to host up on Flickr:





Who is lead on flyers?

[jacques]

Nice going!!!! I will try to get this on Calguns.net as well when I get home from work.

[Stimey]

Techres,

Would you be so kind as to email me this release?  I would like to post it at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune to pique some interest among our military here in North Carolina.  Also, I am trying to establish a new shoot location in Fayetteville, and this would sure help that effort.

Send to:   mjddstineman@embarqmail.com

Thanks!

Stimey

[Old Glory!]

Techres!  You've got SKILLS!!!  Professional looking flyer.  It will be VERY good for Appleseed to have this pulled together, as you have done.  

Not suggesting you should change A THING, but I have a strong opinion about including pictures of the SWAMP FOX BATTALION, FRANCIS MARION'S MEN, showing off the signature RWVA REDCOAT targets......just sayin    


234 years later the Swamp Fox Battalion/Marion's Men engage the Redcoats!  

[hawkhavn]

Yeah!  Swap out one of those good lookin' guys for my dorky one! 

HH

[techres]

The contact info on the flyer is mine.  Is there a national level contact name, email, and phone # for someone who is lead on talking to the military?  I would prefer that be in the flyer if possible.  Perhaps SamD?

Hawk, I will change out the pictures.  Are there any wording changes people want or advise?

Let me know, I will make the final changes and then I will distribute the flyer to those who want it.  Bill3 says it can get up on the server pretty easy with his tech skills.

[Bill 3]

I took a look at the settings and the forum should accept up to 10Mb.  Let me know if you tried and failed.  May need a change to the php settings.

- WRWIII

The contact info on the flyer is mine.  Is there a national level contact name, email, and phone # for someone who is lead on talking to the military?  I would prefer that be in the flyer if possible.  Perhaps SamD?

Hawk, I will change out the pictures.  Are there any wording changes people want or advise?

Let me know, I will make the final changes and then I will distribute the flyer to those who want it.  Bill3 says it can get up on the server pretty easy with his tech skills.

[techres]

I took a look at the settings and the forum should accept up to 10Mb.  Let me know if you tried and failed.  May need a change to the php settings.

- WRWIII

It failed when I tried.  Let me get a final copy done here and then I will try again before you go PHP changing.

[Old Glory!]

When the Colonel asked me about your organization, and he wanted to know who you were and what you were about, some of the staff looked you up on the internet.  It was pretty impressive, what we read on the internet.  I am going to tell you that your internet site does not BEGIN to describe you as individuals or you as a group.  It doesn't BEGIN to do justice to the value you have added to our training plan.  It doesn't begin to do justice for the difference you are going to make in the lives of our soldiers.    Sgt. Rinehardt

Just throwing this one out there for your consideration. 

[techres]

When the Colonel asked me about your organization, and he wanted to know who you were and what you were about, some of the staff looked you up on the internet.  It was pretty impressive, what we read on the internet.  I am going to tell you that your internet site does not BEGIN to describe you as individuals or you as a group.  It doesn't BEGIN to do justice to the value you have added to our training plan.  It doesn't begin to do justice for the difference you are going to make in the lives of our soldiers.    Sgt. Rinehardt

Just throwing this one out there for your consideration. 

Can we use that quote?  If so, I will add it in right now.  I still need contact info for this.

[Fred]

    Looks great, and a great job! But run it thru spell check before making it "final".

    Right on the front page, in that first block of text, "privilege" is misspelled, and the word after "Appleseed" - "Received" should not be capitalized.

    How about the rest of you double-proofing to make sure errors are eliminated before we put this out for the public?

[techres]

    Looks great, and a great job! But run it thru spell check before making it "final".

    Right on the front page, in that first block of text, "privilege" is misspelled, and the word after "Appleseed" - "Received" should not be capitalized.

    How about the rest of you double-proofing to make sure errors are eliminated before we put this out for the public?

I got the "Privilege" typo this morning before your post, I did not catch the Received.  There is a reason I am asking for tons of input here!   I figure we are 3 more drafts before final.   

[techres]

Fred, what is the national Phone number and email that I can use for the flyer?

FYI: Current revision "E":





Still taking edits here!

[Old Glory!]

CONSIDER using "Instructors" rather than "Trainers"; and "education" or "instruction" instead of "training" throughout unless quoting the military or the newspaper article.  

A proven training marksmanship program.

It is our humble hope that Appleseed instruction will save lives through improved marksmanship skills.  (or something like that)

IMNSHO, the military may and will use the terms training, weapons, etc. but as Appleseed representatives we should continue to use Appleseed language; education, rifles, instructors, instruction, etc.  Keep it Appleseed "True and Tried".   What does everyone else think about this?

Capitalize Rifleman first page middle section under "Trainers".

I noticed in the newspaper article Rifleman is not capitalized; not sure how reprinting and copyright works.  

Thanks again Techres!

[PHenry]

OG,
Excellent points.

Here in Florida we don't use the word train - ever. We teach, we educate - the military trains. When we were at Ft. Stewart - we trained troops for combat. At events we teach the traditions of the Founders and one of their fine traditions was marksmanship. We don't say "gun" or "weapon" - only rifle. We teach rifle marksmanship and sometimes we even use "Liberty Teaching Rifles".

It all sounds silly until some reporter with an agenda paints us with the "right-wing militia training org" brush. Nobody will stop to question it for the lie that it would be - they will drink it up like mother's milk and we will be whatever they say we are. We cannot stop people from speaking ill of us, but we can make sure they are lying - right down to the smallest of details.

Our cause is just - our methods unimpeachable.

Techres,
Excellent work sir and God bless you for laying out for a nit picking slacker like me to make comments over. 

PH

[techres]

Alright, last revision of the day:





Ed, please note the lack of pic you hate.

I worked hard to remove all training wording, don't know if it flows though...

I will be on the chat room for the Radio Show tonight if anyone has more suggestions.

[colycat]

Great job on this Techres.  I call it finished. Sure, I could suggest you change this or that, but, its way better than good enough right now.  And we all know that perfection in the Enemy of good enough.  I can't wait to use it.

P.S.

Someone. Nice job on getting AS to the top on Google, using the phrase "The Appleseed Project"

[PHenry]

Time to send this to the printer for mass production and get one in the hands of every CO, of every Nat Guard unit in America!

I would also much like to see them printed in Military publications, so that soldiers can be filling the empty spaces on our lines at events whilst on leave to better ensure their own safety.

Kudos to Techres!

PH