AQT "Cue Card" idea

[Unbridled Liberty]

Not all disabilities are visible.  I had a great time at the Appleseed I went to but I found I had difficulty remembering the details of each stage.  So when I got home I sat down with MS Publisher and made a series of AQT "Cue Cards" to help individuals with memory problems, cognitive disorders and verbal processing difficulties.  I printed a prototype on some Rite in the Rain waterproof paper, which I had laminated and spiral bound.  The size is 4 1/4" x 11".  I laminated the cards so that I could write on them with a grease pencil, and then wipe them clean and reuse them.  As an extra benefit, I printed the opposite (blank) side with the safety rules to help shooters remember what to do at the "cease fire" command.  When I practice, if I forget, say, how many rounds I'm supposed to shoot at which target, a quick glance at the cue card reminds me.  If I place the card in the right place, I don't even have to break cheek weld or sight picture.  Here is a picture of my prototype:

I am open to suggestions for changes.

[desertrat144]

UL,

That's a great idea for anyone; as we get older things tend to slip a bit.  My kids politely call it a 'senior moment', usually followed by some 'reminder' of things (rifles usually) promised to them- NOW!!

Tom

[eaglescouter]

I like it!!!

[tdow]

Might I suggest a slight rewording (to make it the same as what the Appleseed instructors are required to do)?

Unload and Clear!
1.  Magazine Out
2.  Bolt Back
3.  Safety On
4.  Chamber Flag In
5.  Rifle Grounded
6.  No One Touching the Rifle

Good Work!!!

[nyrasgt]

UL et. al.,
   Concur - well done -  as well as excellent for any/all AS shooters; I've been posting AQTs with round count/time in huge letters and have seen many senior instructors distribute sheets containing The Basics of making rifle safe-firing the shot-SHFs of positions, etc-mini-reference card AT the shooter's firing position, to which he or she can refer at any time...why trust an already overloaded memory?
   We do the same thing for many areas in which we need to remember/review large amounts of information; I have a whole set of cards enumerating the practical skills stations for the EMT test taken every 3 years, as well as others for the firearms and other areas of the Security Guard and Peace Officers classes I teach at NYRA.
   Truth be told, my (first) Rifleman target has large marker numbers I wrote on it, both to remind me of the round count and time...also served to make me sure I was shooting at my own target...
Excelsior,
madMark

[Devnull]

I really like the idea. Do you have a PDF of it?

I did notice a mistake though. Stage 3 of the AQT, Standing to Prone has a time limit of 65 seconds or 1:05.

Just so you can make sure their correct.

Stage 1: 10 rounds one mag. Standing. 2:00
Stage 2: 2 & 8 rounds, 5 in each of the two targets. Standing to seated. :55 Transition without the rifle loaded.
Stage 3: 2 & 8 rounds, 3 in the first target, 3 in the second target and 4 in the third target. Standing to prone. 1:05 Transition without the rifle loaded.
Stage 4: 10 rounds. 2 in the first target, 2 in the second target, 3 in the third target and 3 in the fourth target. Prone. 5:00

Hope that helps!

[Unbridled Liberty]

Tom,

Thanks for moving this to its own thread.

I don't have a PDF yet.  This is just a prototype.  My wife is creating original artwork for the shooting positions so that we don't have any copyright infringement issues.  Plus I wanted the feedback y'all are providing before creating the final version.

Does everyone concur with a change on the cease fire card as follows:
Unload and Clear!
1.  Magazine Out
2.  Bolt Back
3.  Safety On
4.  Chamber Flag In
5.  Rifle Grounded
6.  No One Touching the Rifle

As far as the times, I left them blank because, from the Appleseed I went to, it seems there is some leeway there with instructors.  The shooter can then write the time in with a grease pencil.  Is this not correct?  If the times are always the same, I will print them on the cards.

I did not put the transitions on the cards because I could not figure out a way to it without making the cards seem too cluttered.  I figure that the instructors will make sure everyone is standing with unloaded rifles before firing commences. 

Keep the suggestions coming...

[Unbridled Liberty]

Directions- (here is how I made my set):
1. Print the attached PDF's on 8 1/2" x 11" paper and then cut them in half lengthwise, so they measure 4 1/4" x 11" (see original picture above).  There are four different pages, and each page will produce two identical cards.  So you will have two sets of cue cards when you are done.
2.  I printed mine on Rite in the Rain waterproof paper with a greenish tint.  The idea being that the green tint will not produce as much glare as white paper.  I used waterproof paper because even though I laminated them, I trimmed the edges, thus exposing the paper along the edges.
3.  I will also post a cease fire safety cue card shortly.  If you want, you can put the AQT cue cards back into the printer (before cutting the sheets in half) upside down, and print a cease fire safety cue card on the back of each one.
4.  After I had the cards printed on both sides, I had them laminated at Office Depot, trimmed them, and then had them spiral bound along the top edge, also at Office Depot
5.  To use the cards, I lay them on the ground in a spot where I can easily look at them without breaking cheek weld.  If visibility in the prone position is a problem, you can prop them against something.  If windy, a tent stake and a spring clip should keep them upright.
6.  I use a grease pencil (Office Depot) to write the target number on each card.  It can easily be erased and reused.

[Gramma Goats]

As a new shooter i would be helped if the first of the THREE showed 2-1 /3 /4  since you shoot 2, mag change, one....then 3....4

Same on bottom row.

Not all disabilities are visible.  I had a great time at the Appleseed I went to but I found I had difficulty remembering the details of each stage.  So when I got home I sat down with MS Publisher and made a series of AQT "Cue Cards" to help individuals with memory problems, cognitive disorders and verbal processing difficulties.  I printed a prototype on some Rite in the Rain waterproof paper, which I had laminated and spiral bound.  The size is 4 1/4" x 11".  I laminated the cards so that I could write on them with a grease pencil, and then wipe them clean and reuse them.  As an extra benefit, I printed the opposite (blank) side with the safety rules to help shooters remember what to do at the "cease fire" command.  When I practice, if I forget, say, how many rounds I'm supposed to shoot at which target, a quick glance at the cue card reminds me.  If I place the card in the right place, I don't even have to break cheek weld or sight picture.  Here is a picture of my prototype:

I am open to suggestions for changes.

[Gramma Goats]

I think it would work if you just WROTE ' at the top'
Standing to Prone
Shoot Prone Slow Fire

quote author=unbridled_liberty link=topic=14520.msg121123#msg121123 date=1277208916]
Tom,

Thanks for moving this to its own thread.

I don't have a PDF yet.  This is just a prototype.  My wife is creating original artwork for the shooting positions so that we don't have any copyright infringement issues.  Plus I wanted the feedback y'all are providing before creating the final version.

Does everyone concur with a change on the cease fire card as follows:
Unload and Clear!
1.  Magazine Out
2.  Bolt Back
3.  Safety On
4.  Chamber Flag In
5.  Rifle Grounded
6.  No One Touching the Rifle

As far as the times, I left them blank because, from the Appleseed I went to, it seems there is some leeway there with instructors.  The shooter can then write the time in with a grease pencil.  Is this not correct?  If the times are always the same, I will print them on the cards.

I did not put the transitions on the cards because I could not figure out a way to it without making the cards seem too cluttered.  I figure that the instructors will make sure everyone is standing with unloaded rifles before firing commences. 

Keep the suggestions coming...
[/quote]

[Gramma Goats]

BTW --THESE are great.... i have been known to write the sequence on my forearm. Great job

[Unbridled Liberty]

As a new shooter i would be helped if the first of the THREE showed 2-1 /3 /4  since you shoot 2, mag change, one....then 3....4

Same on bottom row.

Great suggestion, thank you.  I'll make the change.

As far as the standing to _______, refresh my memory, which stages start out standing and then change?

[SavageShootr]

As a new shooter i would be helped if the first of the THREE showed 2-1 /3 /4  since you shoot 2, mag change, one....then 3....4

Same on bottom row.

I don't tell people which way to shoot the AQT left to right or right to left. So if I shoot right to left, I would place two rounds in the target, mag change, two more rounds in the same target, then shift to the middle target, placing three rounds in the center target, then shift to the left target and place three rounds in it. So on the third stage, I just tell them 3 - 3 - 4.

BTW I do not shoot it that way but I know people that do.

SS

[SavageShootr]

As far as the standing to _______, refresh my memory, which stages start out standing and then change?

Stage 2 Rapid fire sitting/kneeling. Transition standing to sitting/kneeling, 5 rounds in each target, time 55 seconds, magazines 2 + 8.
Stage 3 Rapid fire prone. Transition standing to prone, 3 - 3 - 4, time 65 seconds, magazines 2 + 8.

[SavageShootr]

UL

I think these cards are a great idea. I have seen people put a notebook on the line at eye level with the six steps. Do you include those in there as well?

SS

[Unbridled Liberty]

I thought of somehow putting the six steps on these, but I decided I wanted them small, and I also wanted to reserve the back side of each card to have the cease fire safety steps.  I think the six steps could go on a separate cue card of the same basic configuration though.  I'll try to work on that...

[Coaster]

I'm working on a different project but this seemed like a good thread to ask in.

What is the minimum prep time that is given before each stage?

[theri]

The Cue Cards Beta 2 version with suggested changes are now attached above.  Please let me know what you think. 

I don't believe that should be a magazine change on Stage 4.

[9mm4545]

There is no mag change on stage 4. Rifle is loaded with 10 rounds at the start. The prep period is somewhat flexible and determined by the line boss. 1-2 minutes seems fairly normal but the line boss can make it more or less depending on his penchant for driving the shooters. 

[Vee Kay]

Thanks for posting the AQT Cue Card.......This will be very helpful for when I am practicing and for the next shoot I attend...Great idea. 

Vonnie

[Unbridled Liberty]

I don't believe that should be a magazine change on Stage 4.

OK, thank you Theri.  Appleseed AQT Cue Cards Beta 3 4 now posted.  Please everyone check this for correct course of fire, times, spelling, etc.  Let's put this thing to bed!

[dragit]

Stage 4 is 2 2 3 3, not 3 3 2 2 as shown on the version I see posted by unbridled liberty in the post above this one.

[Unbridled Liberty]

Thank you dragit, it's now fixed.  Devnull also mentioned this earlier but I missed it.  Beta 4 version now posted.

[Beaker]

These cards are great!!!  

Was just making up my notebook before attending my first shoot in a couple weeks.
You have done all the work for me.

You should send these on to Fred to include in his Riflemans Guide.

Excellent work

[Unbridled Liberty]

Thank you Beaker et al.  Glad to help. 

[wooldl]

Great idea and great work to all involved.

Thank you!

[desertrat144]

Thank you Beaker et al.  Glad to help. 

I finally got Beta 4 to open don't ask! Great job!

Re: your earlier question, I think you've answered it elegantly.  What you are doing is right on so many levels.

Tom