AAR St. Augustine, Florida Feb. 19-20

[DrJohn]

Conditions could not have been more ideal for an Appleseed weekend, except for the fact that the Daytona 500 drew huge crowds to the area and made freeway travel difficult. There was hardly a motel room to be found in the St. Augustine area, and still we had shooters eager to learn about American heritage and history and the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship. Saturday began slowly, partly because of the crowded freeway and late arrivals and partly because of the unusually fine weather and the generally festive atmosphere. Twenty-one students attended Saturday and perhaps half had never shot a rifle before or were not familiar with the one they brought. Initial "Redcoat" or "Hits Count!" target results reflected a general lack of experience, and there were the usual equipment issues. But the students redoubled their efforts after lunch Saturday, and the improvement in skill level was dramatic. The group was treated to a wonderful rendition of Strike One by Rick, who left his instructor wife Michelle and their soon-to-be-born baby, to teach one last Appleseed before the blessed arrival. We were also treated to a fine version of Strike Two by Terry at lunch Saturday. Our senior presiding instructor Doug was his usual unflappable and very capable self, and Glenn did a fine job as our newest Florida instructor. Our Redcoat scores Saturday afternoon showed that the students were very determined to improve, and improve they did. One shooter, Lauren Urban, cleared the afternoon's Redcoat target, after another shooter, Matthew Winters, had qualified Rifleman with a score of 217.

Sunday we had only four students return, but they were highly motivated and determined. With an instructor to student ratio of more than one to one, each student received intense personal coaching and the skill level improved even more dramatically. By the end of the event Sunday, one more student, Karl Green, had qualified Rifleman, also with a score of 217. We were highly gratified that both our new Riflemen displayed strong interest in returning to a second Appleseed and taking an orange Instructor in Training hat. Sunday there were two other students "knocking on the door" of qualifying as Riflemen, John Linn, who was shooting consistently in the low 200s, and Bennett Yell, who shot a heartbreaking 209 on the last AQT, missing his last shot by a scant thirty-second of and inch, which would have given him a score of 210 instead of 209. Needless to say, he is determined to return to Appleseed.

The small number of students Sunday allowed us to direct more than the usual amount of attention to Known Distance shooting, which appeared to please our students and allow them to really experience our advice that what works at 25 yards works equally well at 100 yards. Sunday evening people who met as strangers Saturday morning, parted as friends and fellow patriots, eager to encounter each other again. Another fine Appleseed weekend!

[Sly223]

 This was an obvious case of divine intervention, prior to lunch it appeared as if we were to experience an event unlike any other  so I sent out a quick to just before the cadre
as we mentioned the fact that the colonist believed they would be blessed with divine intervention, it was as if our forefathers shone down on us all, students and cadre alike. From there on out it was a wonderful, and amazing experience for all who were present. I had some prayers running though my head as I were heading down the highway,and Karl was in my prayer thanking the lord for his sharing of some of the facts that he learned about David and Moses being D.O.M. He must have attended a christian college. I think that's what he mentioned.I did not pray for him to get "RIFLEMAN", But I did ask to bless the man in whatever means he felt compelled.
I think we were all very blessed. I was able to return home without having missed any major events.
Dr. John congrats Sir a very successful event in the books even though for a moment it felt like we were herding cats!
Doug always an Honor Sir, Fine job on that grandson!
Therri, very solid performance,Sir.
Glen, you brought quite a hand bag of knowledge and composure, and obvious range experience these tools are irreplaceable.It is very difficult to absorb as an iit in the heat of the moment you are also drinking from the fire hose you did a fine job.The rifleman's boot camp is an excellent source for the type of questions you already have,there is no better learning environment for anyone in your position you are a very quick study.Great job first event!
I feel as if alot of common folk came aqnd left as patriots our forefathers would be proud of!

[FLawyer]

Here are a couple of pictures from the event.  If you look on the ground next to Craig (our Sunday Rifleman) you will see his brand new rifle.  He was so frustrated with the bold action 22 he brought on Saturday that Saturday evening he went out and bought a Ruger 10/22, put a scope on it, built up the cheek pad (based on descriptions given by Dr. John), and went to his home range to sight it in.  He shot Rifleman on his first AQT on Sunday.  That is motivation.