Corona, CA Mar 7-8, '09 Appleseed

[LayloPro]

Wowser!........

This one was a trip, all by itself......... we had great numbers, we learned, we trained, we interpreted, we were sweating, we were cold, we shoveled mud, we had fun, we saw shooters progress by leaps and bounds, we tried new line commands & routines,  we celebrated our first year here in Cali, we ate cake, we handed out RM patches and Cali rockers, we had new IIT's.......

We rocked!!

We started off with 39 shooters on the line on Saturday, and 27 on Sunday.....we had a total of 6 Riflemen (and gals!) and two that took up the "Cap of Destiny", and became IIT's. More on this in a minute....stay with me here....

Because we did not have our "usual" range that is the large one, we were scattered across three small ranges, one of which had a large watery mud bog at the firing line, one that had been "tractored" to reduce most of the wet mud, and one that was "only" tractor grooved, but not "too muddy"......plus, our anticipated "registration booth" was being demolished by range maintenance people as we arrived on Sat am.......

What to do?? Only one line of practical effort will put on an Appleseed clinic under these conditions...."Adapt, improvise, and overcome"......

We set up our lines and backers as we could, with help from a number of "volunteers", and had our first rounds going down ranges towards the initial redcoat target by 10 am......

From there, it was instruction, and setting up gear and slings.......and squares......lots of squares......I -like- squares....they are the antithesis to liberals, in that they know & tell so much that -is- so...... Target truth.......many were not ready for the truth, but the targets were silently telling them anyway......more instruction, more shooting.......

Running from line to line, trying to make sure nothing was happening that needed fixing, or taking care of.....This Shoot Boss in training stuff is hard work, even with several weeks beforehand to prepare for it.....I like being 'just' a Red Hat, instructing, helping, adjusting, doing....but the credo says a Red Hat should be able to Shoot Boss any time he/she is at an event, and we have many next month to do.......gotta know how to do all this "stuff"....

Coming up to lunch time & we have the instructors telling the Story, while folks eat & listen & contemplate.....As you speak about the sacrifices & choices made that day, you wonder: "Are they 'getting it'? Will this inspire them? Do they understand the costs made so they can call themselves 'Americans'? Can I say something or anything different to make this easier for them to 'get'?"

All these questions then more......

As you speak, you see the people begin to listen more attentively.....some even looking down, as they begin to realize this is something new to them, they have not heard this before, they did not realize the extent of the damage done in just that one day.....for them....for their children, and those children's children.....and we are watching it being taken away, slowly & very steadily.....and what can they do about it?

After lunch, I had the 6 instructors we had at this event who had been at the event in March at Corona, when Appleseed -first landed- in California tell about what the program had changed for them, what they saw differently now, how it had changed their very lives. Following them with a simple recap of "the numbers", we sent them back to their lines with a more determined stride to their step.......

We were rewarded at the end of Saturday by having a new Rifleman emerge....Philip, who had come out with his brother & friends & family, showed what it took to get it done.....and got it done!! We applauded him with his new patch & rockers! Great guy!

Since this was also California's 1st anniversary bash, celebrating 12 months from this range back again, I had a cake made up to celebrate this occasion, and to illustrate California's' standing in the Appleseed community. With a new graphic design from CitizenSentry, and a good hearted gal at the bakery, I think it pretty much said it all. And it tasted pretty darned good too!! Pictures to follow.....

Heading back to the hotel & restaurant, we enjoyed a good meal, with 10 of us at the table, one of the strongest contingents of Appleseeders I have seen outside of a training course....folks will notice all those hats & jackets at a restaurant, I'm telling you!

Following our hotel "tell us good/bad" bash on the newbie SB, we went our way, forming back up at 8 the next morning to begin our second day.
27 shooters reformed on the -2- lines now, since the wet mud bog had been deemed unsuitable for man or beast, & I had no desire to subject our shooters to that any longer.

We tried something a bit "new", by simply telling the shooters to decide for themselves which range they wanted to be on after the safety review.
They chose evenly, and the instruction began with a redcoat, followed by an AQT, then directly into the "AQT Grind". We proceeded until lunch, then gathered our group, and began telling them stories of the individuals who may, or may not have been in any of the colonists "bands", but who made a terrific impact on the battles, and who truly deserve to be honored by us remembering them.....
And our audience enjoyed these tales as well....

Following lunch, I was at Range 1, where as the shooters returned from the line, SoCal told me they had just had a Rifleman's score shot, but I needed to give him his patches, because he "had to leave".......No problem, but I was curious.....After I awarded him his patches & rockers, I asked him why he had to leave so soon, instead of staying around....he responded that his wife did not know he was at the range, or that he was "out shooting"......Good lord, get that gal shooting herself!! She'll love it, & then you can -both- go to the range when you want to!!

By the time we had fired on our last AQT, and finished with our final redcoat, all the shooters knew that they had seen improvement, and of things needed to be changed, and of rifles that may not have been "as reliable as expected". We gathered them in for a final group gathering and to award another 4 hard earned patches.

Pearce & Sarah had arrived as a couple, and even tho' Sarah had shot her score first, she was very gracious & waited until Pearce had shot his....so they were both honored together as Riflemen!

Pete, yet another friend in a group who came together, had shot a solid RM score in the afternoon, and was really tickled to find that the patch came with rockers.......he'll have to get a Rifleman's jacket now to put them on, that's all.  <

Finally, I would ask you to recall several months ago, when a young wife came alone, because her husband had to work that weekend we had our shoot. She had shot a wonderful RM score on the last AQT on Sunday way back then, but had not wanted to put on the orange hat of Destiny, until her husband came to us, shot his score, and then they could "join in" together......
Well, her husband came for the weekend, listened, shot his score, and it was my very distinct pleasure to welcome them both as an IIT couple. Truly really neat folks!!

Following that, we read the shirt, spoke about 7th stepping, and asked that they fill out our response form & sign up for emails.....and once again, even though we really didn't want it to end, another Appleseed was done, with everyone cleaning up, putting things away, and helping each other....

It truly is our honor & duty to do these events....we can reach so many more people doing this......

Again, two concurrent Cali events, our first celebration of our first year in Cali, and another event to show the country....."Just watch"....

So, how was your weekend?

Laylopro

.

[LayloPro]

More Saturday pix....

[LayloPro]

Sunday pixs.........

[LayloPro]

Sunday Riflemen........

[cannonman61]

You know, I think Bob210 looks best "at the ready" as in the second set of pictures.

But then, that's just me. 

Congrats on a what looks to be a great shoot on a nice weekend. We had fun here on the other end of the country too! But we had even bigger guns!


Cannonman61

[James E]

Wow Ian,  Shoot Boss and you managed somehow to get a bunch of photos.  Impressive!

Did anyone from Claremont ROTC show up to check out the program?

Congrats,

James E

[LayloPro]

Hello all,
you know, I really should not do these AARs really early in the morning anymore....I keep forgetting things.....either that, or it's "Mad Cow Disease"...

One of the major things that make -any- shoot go well, are the quality of instructors.....even the quantity sometimes.....

This shoot, we had both......

I would like to give a personal "Thank You!!" to all those who came to help me not look like a fool trying to do this, and to be able to handle the "unexpected" as it arose.....

1st, our most awesome State Coordinator, Bob210......he has been doing these things with so much aplomb & skill, they really "look" kind of easy.....I can tell you that they are not! But he makes it look pretty effortless.....I need to emulate him more..... Thank you, Bob!!O0 <

My brother & sister Red hats, who came out to help run this event.....even tho' some could only stay one day, they came to help, & I very much appreciate that.....Johnny Appleseed, SavageShooter, SoCalSerf, MrBill, Francis Marion, and SonoftheRepublic....thank you, all of you!! You really make these things work! You guys ROCK!!!

Our Saturday orange hats were Grandson of Liberty, and for his first appearance, Wanderer....they did a great job hustling around getting things done, and calling the lines, while keeping everyone safe.
On Sunday, LtDang & PhoneProne were able to put in their efforts as well, and we kept our instructor balance with them replacing the red hats who had to work....plus, they were able to get our birthday cake from the bakery, secure it, & bring it to the range Saturday for our "Birthday Party!!" Nice job, all of you!!

I did not hear of a single safety incident, or anything even approaching one, & in my mind, -that- makes for a great shoot!

While we looked for our Claremont ROTC contact, I do not believe he was able to make it out this weekend.....it's ok, we will go and see him in the near future.

Most of what we found (even tho' we already kind of "knew it") was that any of the red hats were ready, willing and able to jump on -any- subject of instruction, and were eager to be one of the ones giving the 3 strikes, to the best of their ability......what a wonderful feeling of backup..... <

I apologize for not remembering to include this in my first piece....I had been focused on the pix & all our RM's, and somehow that took over.....
Please forgive my tired old brain......it really should not be out wandering around by itself.....

More as I remember it.....

LLP

[phoneprone]

 
This was a great shoot, but LLP was supposed to photoshop FM into the group pic, thumbs us pic + group pic = good pic...
anywho
good times had by all
Brandon, boyscout, promised to score no less than 227 on his AQT at the next Appleseed.
I know I had a great time, how about you?
PP
fyi - Lt. Dang and myself took a lot of those pics, THAT's how you can SB and take pics... recruit recruit recruit

[phoneprone]

I loved the look on SoCal's face when he saw the cake!