######National Rifle Association Whittington Center 2017 Patriot's Day#######

[TaosGlock]

Patriots Day was celebrated at the NRAWC and 14 of America's finest citizens showed up to be
imersed in the founding history of our nation on April 19th, 1775 and learn the fundamentals of precision marksmanship.
It was our marksmanship skills that birthed our nation.
Below is a group pic showing both instructors and shooters. Ages were from 11-70!
100 yard target is shown after the Patriot's Volley!



This event was awesome, in part due to the great American patriots who showed up!

At the famous Jeff Cooper Range:


The 100 yard AR500 Redcoat shown with berms 200-500 and plenty of 4MOA steel for all! Note the arrow marks the location of the 1000M 1MOA target!




Enough said:


...just rolling in so more later.

[desert_diver]

We had an excellent group of shooters who persevered through sleet and rain on Saturday am.  It was great to see how the groups tightened up after instruction and fixing equipment problems.

[TaosGlock]

Back in colonial times, homeland security was a nation of riflemen.
This country was founded on the principles of effective marksmanship.

Therefore, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
"Well regulated" means well trained. The minutemen were a prime example back then.

Full quote of Lord Percy:

"During the whole affair, the rebels attacked us in a very scattered, irregular manner, but with perseverance and resolution, nor did they ever dare to form into a regular body. Indeed they knew too well what was proper, to do so. Whoever looks upon them as an irregular mob, will find himself very much mistaken. They have men amongst them who know very well what they are about, having been employed as rangers against the Indians and Canadians, and this country being very much covered with wood, and hilly, is very advantageous for their method of fighting."

Congrats to our new Riflemen! Men who also know very much what they are all about!
Chris, Steve, Roger and Chad

These men persisted and scored Expert on the Army Qualifying Test.


At the last minute another Rifleman (Chad) emerged form the ranks. Show with the Shoot Boss: Bluefeather (Gillian).


Project Appleseed: Forging Riflemen on the anvil of the AQT!

This woman scored 202 on the AQT. Just a mere 8 points from "Expert". This was her first event and she had a very teachable attitude. Other shooters managed 180-190!  Great job shooters and thanks again to my fantastic instructor crew!

[TaosGlock]

We arrived early in the AM at the famous Jeff Cooper Range.
The cold windy morning was murky gray with low clouds and snow fluries moving in.
The first half of the day was snow, sleet and rain mixed with wind.
Water was puddling on the mats but everyone got down to business....literally!

No one quit, all carried on, like true Americans who never quit in the face of adversity.

A pure guts attitude, combined with skill at arms is what birthed our great Nation on April 19th.

[TaosGlock]

The American spirit is alive and well at the National Rifle Association Whittington Center.

In today's world of 24-hour news cycles, changing technologies, and push-button gratification, it's a challenge to stay connected to the values that our great country was built on. Ideals like integrity, commitment, and personal responsibility are what our founding fathers relied on to win our independence and to then make America a great nation. At Project Appleseed, we're dedicated to keeping these timeless values alive. We promote civic responsibility through the teaching of colonial history and the American tradition of rifle marksmanship. Even after all of these years, there is much to be learned from our forefathers' examples of perseverance, commitment, and civic virtue. With a full calendar of shooting clinics and events, Project Appleseed is here to make sure these timeless principles live on for generations to come.

The Northern New Mexico Project Appleseed crew has it's home in Raton, New Mexico at the prestigious National Rifle Association Whittington Center.
We use the Jeff Cooper Range where Col. Cooper originally taught rifle marksmanship and wove this in with his famous "rifle walk". The "rifle walk" is still there but seldom used in it's original form.

Shooters on the line!:



Mother and daughter. There were 3 generations of this family here!


Perfect form for the standing position displayed on the AQT:


The results of our Patriot's Volley. 20 rounds fired for 20 of those who died on April 19th, 1775.
Load 2 mags of 10 rounds each, and fire one round after a name is read and after the "Fire" command.
Good job fellow American shooters!  Makes an instructor proud!

[TaosGlock]

Learn today, teach tomorrow!
The shooters do all the reviews.
Most of the points of instruction were taught inside the warmth of the Cooper Cabin.


NMMI9100 and desert_diver teach the seated position for Stage 2 of the AQT.

[TaosGlock]

After the French and Indian War, King George decided to break his agreement with the colonists and decided to tax them to help pay off the massive debt incurred by the Crown. England was in social and economic shambles but the rebellious colonists were thriving with opportunity. Naturally the colonists revolted with even the smallest tax infraction. War with the Crown was inevitable and the militias started in earnest their training.  The fundamentals they learned have changed but a tiny bit, mostly in regards to modern equipment.



We are the descendants of those fearless men and women who earned our freedom on the battlefield.

Parker's Revenge:


We honor their pursuit of liberty by passing along the skills and knowledge that aided them in securing it.
Today's Rifleman understands that owning and mastering a rifle is part of his/her American heritage.
After all, this country was founded on the principles of effective marksmanship.

It was common everyday folk who turned up on April 19th, 1775. With their principled skill at arms, these embattled farmers", shopkeepers,
and school teachers, successfully repelled the British Army in an embarrassing defeat :



Whether you're a new shooter or a seasoned marksman,
Project Appleseed can help transform you from a person with a rifle into a principled and skilled Rifleman.

Have things in our country changed much from this?:


If you do not know your history, how do know where you came from or where you are or where you are going?

You can't write the story of America without including several chapters about the skill and bravery of our forefathers.


On April 19, 1775, at Lexington Major John Pitcarin yelled, 'Disperse ye rebels and lay down your arms". They stood their ground and many got shot in the back a few moments later as they walked back to their families who were watching the event unfold.

..and at Concord's North Bridge where "The embattled farmers fired the shot heard 'round the world".


....American colonists stood with muskets in hand and faced down the British forces that were trying to seize their arms. The colonists did it with grit, determination, and superior marksmanship. They were real marksmen: nobly and ably putting their skills on the line in pursuit of liberty.

"Unhappy it is...to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brothers breast, and that the once happy and peaceful plains of America are either to be drenched with blood or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative! 
But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice?-George Washington


Would you be willing to make a similar choice if the need arose?

...as our Founders handily did, but not without sacrifice, on April 19, 1775.
Below a pic depicts Maj. John Buttrick of the Concord Militia who for the first time in American history told our militia to fire on the British Regulars. He had had enough of their firing without orders that day onto our men when they were merely standing their rightful ground.. His words were: "Fire, for Gods sake fire...fire as fast as you can!'

[TaosGlock]

Can you hit a target at 25 yards? How about at 500 yards? Whether you are new to the shooting sports or a seasoned shooter Appleseed will be able to teach you a thing or two.

For the new shooter we can teach you to use your rifle safely and also be able to hit your target. For the seasoned shooter we can teach you to shoot more accurately - even out to 500 yards.

Project Appleseed can help transform you from a man with a rifle into a Rifleman. A Rifleman is more than a man (or woman) with a rifle. A Rifleman understands that owning and mastering a rifle is part of his heritage as an American. And he knows why: This is a nation founded by Riflemen -- men and women skilled in the use of arms.

Those skills served the colonists well when they stood up to the British on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord, and routed the British forces that tried to seize the colonists' arms. They did it with grit, with determination, and with superior skill in marksmanship. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to the task. And they didn't stop until they had won. Throughout history, Riflemen have embodied personal responsibility and been pillars of their communities, characteristics that are becoming ever more rare in our nation.

At Project Appleseed, we want to return America to being a nation of Riflemen. And we want you to join us
Before the Points of instruction at an Appleseed, the first target often looks like this...not the kind of marksmanship that would birth a nation.


...and after 2 days of applying the fundamentals of precision marksmanship.
Lady Liberty would be proud!


We are currently suffering a greater per capita amount of oppressive laws and taxes.
Will America prevail using the non-firearms tools the founders gave us, so we do not
have to
suffer what they went thru?


These flags are more than just pretty representations of the American Revolution. They represent a challenge to tyranny.
Slogans like "Live free or die" and "Give me liberty or give me death" were not just rebellious statements bandied about like bumper stickers today.
The slogans represented a code that was a way of life that defined the American Revolution, which is not the same as the Revolutionary War.

[TaosGlock]

..."That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."


Project Appleseed is a CMP approved  course of fire. Attending a 2 day event allows one to
immediately
purchase an M1 Garand and ammo. This will be delivered directly to your door!

[TaosGlock]

Meanwhile on Lexington Green the militia was led by the very well respected, Capt. John Parker, aged 46 a hardened warrior from the French and Indian War. He was in the late stages of TB and his voice was raspy and hard to hear. Parker's youngest son had just celebrated his 4th birthday.
Parker had his drummer boy, William Diamond, sound the muster drum and 77 of his men were now ready. They range in age from 16-60 and are all related in some way or another. There are fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and cousins.
After the regulars, without orders fired upon Parker's men, 8 of Parker's militia were killed, 9 were wounded.  Most were shot in the back as they were retreating.



Captain John Parker of Lexington in his own words regarding April 19th, 1775:



Rev. Jonas Clarke later testified it was "the Second of the British officers that fired a pistol towards the retreating militia".
"After that "shot", the Regulars opened fire without orders onto Parker's men."

American heritage and marksmanship. For Americans, one can't exist without the other....
The map of Battle Road for April 19th, 1775 with 2 rifles that embody the spirit of marksmanship and patriotism, The M1A and the M1 Garand.
Wood and steel, blood and courage. It is all interwoven to create/maintain liberty.

[TaosGlock]

Instructors on the line:

[TaosGlock]

Our standard for this program is four minutes of angle. At 500 yards that is a 20" "man" sized target.

What works at 25 yards works at 500 yards as demonstrated by the steel target shown below.
This is shot on day 2, after lunch when we do the long distance version of our standard 2 day event.
That is when we put up the rimfire rifles and break out the centerfire rifles. We shoot steel from 200-1100 yards!
Our four minute of angle standard is represented by this steel target. The center is the same as a "head" shot.

The results speak for themselves as shown by the 4 MOA steel on the 500 yard berm in the shadowy landmark of Red River Peak.
"Homeland security is a nation of Riflemen"-Ken Royce aka Boston Tea Party.


To keep their skills intact, instructors shoot after hours on the KD range.

Jon and his Lee Enfield in .303 British:


Warren with an M1A and David with a tricked out AR-15 with rifle data to 1000M!


...while his son shoots his new .308!


...with the results, Good job Walker!


Warren, James and Kaleb set up our famous AR500 steel Redcoat target.

[TaosGlock]

We are a results oriented organization and the spirit of our mission is:

1)  Inform our fellow Citizens on their heritage of self-governance and the blessings of Liberty, bought by the sacrifices of our Founders, who threw off the shackles of British colonial rule by standing in armed opposition to the forces of tyranny on April 19th, 1775;

2)  Instruct our fellow Citizens on the proper and effective use of a rack-grade rifle and, using surplus ammunition and no other support than a sling, engage targets successfully from a distance of 25 meters to 500 yards with a four minute-of-angle standard of accuracy;  and to

3)  Produce men and women who are able to light a fire for Liberty in the minds of their fellow Citizens, and make them the finest rifle marksmanship Instructors on the planet.


A huge thanks to the shooters who attended this event!
Thanks to my awesome instructor crew!
Thanks to the NRA Whittington Center staff for all their support and the use of the Cooper Range!

See you all on July 29-30...same place!
And be sure to attend our Unknown Distance Shoot this next Sept. 16-17!

The sun sets on another fantastic NRA Whittington Center event..
Along the Santa Fe Trail, where this statue of Charlton Heston sits right near the original tracks of the historic Santa Fe Trail.




And thanks to our Founders who had the guts to make hard choices and sacrificed their all to form a new Nation.

[BlueFeather]

Thank you Dan for creating yet another awesome After Action Report!  We had an amazing group of students who persisted through everything! Plus, 4 riflemen and at least 3 others knocking n the door!

Thanks also to all of our great instructors! It was your close attention to every student that encouraged them do so well!

[nmmi9100]

Great AAR, Dan, as always, my friend!

/David

[Mrs. Smith]

I must say, Dan, that your AARs are the most vivid I've read. Fantastic, and we WILL be joining at the Jeff Cooper someday!

[FlingingLead]

I gotta say, this was one of the best things I have done in a long time.  The weather was challenging, but in the spirit of the history being taught - very appropriate.  The training was valuable, and the trainers were great.  I appreciated the way they would gladly spend extra time to cover an important point.  Caleb(?) in particular went out of his way to help me.  The history was fascinating to learn, and Dan is particularly good at delivering a powerful, passionate message.  I managed to squeak in a qualifying score, shooting a bolt action.  The best advice I got (and needed) was to make up lost points on the final stage.  David stressed "take our time, make your shots count, the scores are doubled".  He was right, and thats how i managed to get my Rifleman's patch.