AAR: St. Augustine, FL Nov. 20-21

[ItsanSKS]

Your instructors this weekend:
Shoot Boss: Eric "ItsanSKS"
Instructor: John "DrJohn"
Instructors in Training: Terry "Theri", Bruce "9mm4545", and Vicki "LadyZipper"


As I rolled into St. Augustine Friday evening, I wondered aloud to myself, "Wonder who I'm going to meet this weekend, and what kind of folks they are going to be?"  The answer wouldn't come for another 12 hours, but it is one that I should have already known: I was preparing to meet a group of 27 of Florida's finest patriots; folks willing to step outside of their comfort zone, and embrace the traditions, history, and heritage of our Founding Generation;  In short, I would be meeting a cross section of the finest folks America has to offer.

I met people this weekend that have truly inspired me; men, women and children from all walks of life, all of whom endured the unbearable suffering of their instructors without so much as a whimper.  Their thirst for knowledge, of both the physical and mental skills of Rifle Marksmanship was palpable in the air as we began the safety briefing. 

Many familiar faces were seen, though they were far outnumbered by those who had never attended before; this is good- it means that there are those who remembered the 7th step: "get off your couch and connect with your fellow Americans, tell them about the history, the heritage, and our shared rifle marksmanship traditions". 

With beautiful weather for the entire weekend, a skilled group of instructors on hand, and a group of determined students, this event will be memorable for all in attendance. 

I want to thank everyone that came out this weekend, as it would have been an awfully lonely weekend without ya'll.

Special recognition is in order for our two Riflemen, Tony (217) and Bill (210).  Bill had his own three choices: murky pond, smelly blue water in a little gray house, or a quick dousing from some ice cold, but clean, water. 

Another shooter deserves some special recognition, as she proved without question that she has the heart of a Riflewoman; improvising, adapting, and overcoming are more than a mantra, they are a way of life for this woman.  Determined to improve?  Oh Yeah.  Willing to endure hardship?  Daily.  Retain a great attitude, while dealing with obstacles that would hobble a lesser person?  In spades.   

Cindy arrived, with three generations of family in tow, eager to begin learning how she could better handle her rifle.  A quick wit, and a sharp mind are her constant companions.  She took to the instruction like a fish to water.  Taking notes, asking questions, pressing her instructors for more information.  This woman is relentless.
Being essentially confined to a powered mobility scooter, and suffering the ill effects of a medical condition, had absolutely no bearing on her willingness or ability to learn.  Oh, if only *all* of our fellow Americans would show such interest in the history of this great nation!  Cindy, my faded red hat is off to you, young lady, as you indeed are an inspiration for us all. 

There will, of course, be pictures included at some point in the future. 

Please, post up your comments from this weekends' class, good or bad, as we are always hoping to improve. 

Tell us YOUR Appleseed story!



-ItsanSKS

[ItsanSKS]

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[theri]

We had several repeat shooters at this Appleseed who came close but were not quite able to pull out a Rifleman score.  I wan to encourage them to "hang in there."  As LadyVetch told me just before my third Appleseed as a Shooter

3 times the charm... 

You've done your homework, now just relax and trust yourself.    You can do it.     

Guess what.

She was right!  I shot an 218 and stepped up to an Orange Hat.  You can too.  Just remember to dry fire at home 2 to 3 times a week and you will see you scores improve significantly at the next Appleseed.

[9mm4545]

After every Appleseed I go to I get home and say "Wow!". This one was no different. We had some great people who got off the sofa and came out to learn about our American tradition of marksmanship and the inspiring stories of our founding generation. Thank you for your grit, determination, and persistence.

Like every Appleseed, we had an assortment of challenges. The usual ones of misbehaving rifles, sizzling hot brass, and an organizational element of mild chaos along with something new: an ant attack! On Sunday a gust of wind blew back a ground tarp to reveal a Florida favorite--the ant hill, complete with thousands of now angry ants. Just when I thought I had packed my range bag for every conceivable contingency, along comes another. Note to self: pack ant killer spray for trips to the range in Florida. Kudos to our affected shooters for displaying great muzzle control during the great ant escapade. After a quick relocation of a couple of shooting mats, the AQT grind resumed and marksmanship skills, rather than insect avoidance, was the name of the game.

I look forward to seeing all of you again as we together create a Nation of Riflemen.

[bill o rites]

awesopme guys  wish i could have been there   see ya soon

[DrJohn]

We had a large group of eager students at the St. Augustine shoot, many of them attending Appleseed for the first time.  The group was diverse in age and shooting experience, but the one thing they shared was a willing eagerness to learn more of our nation's heritage and history, and a determination to hone the skills that enabled our ancestors to establish Liberty on these shores.  It was an inspiration to work with so many dedicated patriots, and I look forward to my next trip down to Florida.