Homestead FL AAR March 25-26, 2023

[9mm4545]

This was the shoot that almost wasn't, and then it was, and then it wasn't. A week before the event we had exactly zero people signed up. Through some hard work, personal contacts, and magic, the local cadre and our excellent state coordinator somehow managed to have a full line by Wednesday and the shoot was no longer in danger of being cancelled. Build it and they will come! On Saturday we had fourteen shooters, all beginners, and all eager to learn. These were Trail Life Boys, their parents, and occasional siblings and I cannot say enough good things about these lovely people. We had 8 young Patriots ranging in age from 6 to 13 years old on day one, and completely new to the world of rifle marksmanship. Once we had everyone fitted with a rifleâ€"there were 14 loaner rifles providedâ€"we got down to doing what Appleseed is known for: teaching foundational rifle marksmanship and bringing to life the stirring story of the most fateful day in our American history. The progress in marksmanship abilities was rapid and remarkable and a validation that what we teach works. By the end of day one we had a tired but happy group that certainly deserved to be proud of their accomplishments.

When we began on Saturday we knew we had some who would be able to only attend on one day and that our numbers would be a bit fluid. This shoot did come together after all at the last minute and people did have to do some life rearranging. Unlike most shoots the attendance on Sunday was greater than on Saturday and we had 19 beginning shooters on the line Sunday morning. Only 7 shooters were returning from the day before. With so many new shooters we decided to treat the event as two one-day shoots. By the end of the weekend we had 26 distinct individuals on the line at some point or another. On our second day, out of the 19 on the line, only three had been to a previous Appleseed. The morning quickly moved along and it really was finally starting to click when we took our lunch break. And at that point the excitement beganâ€"and things went awry. On the shooting bay next to ours a fire on the berm had been sparked off by a shot and the combination of extremely dry vegetation and a brisk wind was all it took for the fire to quickly get out of hand. In a very short time we were told that the fire trucks were on the way and that we would have to get off the range. We grabbed the rifles and ammo and retreated well away to the gravel parking area.  Fortunately, the only damage was a number of scorched berms and the thatched roof of a shelter on one of the shooting bays. Everything hastily left on our bay survived without damage and once the fire was contained the range personnel loaded all our stuff onto carts and delivered it to us in the parking area. The continued presence of firefighters putting out hot spots kept us in the parking lot sorting out our gear. By the time three fire engines, two tankers, and the forest service had come and gone it was many hours later and day two ended for us all at about the time it just got going.

I must give kudos to all of the wonderful instructors who made this shoot happen. IXOYE from Iowa (Saturday) and nimik from Wisconsin (both days) were in Florida and graciously offered their help. All I can say is thank you each a million times. You guys really did make it possible. Our local south Florida cadre Miss Conduct and Kinetic Energy are polished professionals and are always a pleasure to work with. And finally thanks to Rambo Granny, who besides being an excellent shooter and instructor, runs a lean mean registration table. Without her and Miss Conduct expertly dealing with the paperwork the shoot couldn't have happened. You handled 8(!) walk on shooters and 16 loaner rifles and made it look a lot easier than it is.

All of you who joined us are to be commended for embarking on the journey to becoming a Rifleman. I hope to see you all again soon at an Appleseed, preferably one that doesn't end quite as abruptly as the one in Homestead this weekend!

[Cleveland]

I bet all the Trail Life folks will be telling stories about this event around the campfire for years to come.

Huzzah to all those that made this event happen.

Liberty,
Cleveland
Southeast Regional Coordinator

[ScubaSteve]

Thanks to all the Fl, and other states, instructors that made this event happen. I understand there were a lot of smiling faces and I think many will be back.


Steve

[Not Sure]

Sounds like I missed an exciting one.  Glad to hear that everything was ok.  I know everyone was in good hands.

Unfortunately, I just didn't get home in time and with enough energy to make it down on Sunday.

Hope to have many return shooters, but we can't promise that kind of excitement.

[Kinetic Energy]

The Trail Life group is truly exceptional. Even with the brush fire on Sunday, it was used as a teaching moment on judging the direction of travel of fire with the wind. It was an honor to spend time with each of you. I look forward to seeing you at more events in the future.

[Miss Conduct]

You have to admit that this was one for the record books. It came together in a flash and quickly ended in a flame or actually a lot of flames. Wouldn't this be the real reason for an"Infero" Rifleman Patch? However, the firefighters did a great job.

It's an honor to work with the Trail Life group. They are great people, kids and adults. What a bunch of troopers. Even after having to cut the afternoon short they still were excited to sign up again and come back for more.

A big thank you to our Shoot Boss 9mm4545 and Rambo Granny for coming all the way down to Homestead to help us out. The South Florida Cadre always enjoys and appreciates their contributions.

Miss Conduct

"May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right" Peter Marshall

[rambo granny]

Great group of students! So sorry we were robbed of the ability to pass out young patriot patches again on Sunday afternoon as you students rock! Darn that fire! Come back soon to move toward your own rifleman patch! Questions about getting your own rifle? Ask any of us instructors.

A few pics attached: IMC class with Miss Conduct & groups starting to form before lunchtime and the fire.

We also had an interesting IAO (Improvise, Adapt, & Overcome) on the line. Check out the Adaptive Appleseed post at this link https://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=62914.msg408654#msg408654 This is on the special Adaptive Appleseed board for adaptive shooters working around various physical challenges.

[IXOYE]

It was an honor and a pleasure to work with everyone. Thank you for letting me be part of your weekend. It was great to see so many new shooters on the line and to see their progress. It was also great working with the wonderful instructors from the great state of Florida. You are welcome to join us in Iowa anytime you want.

[rambo granny]

IXOYE,
Thanks for the kind words and invite. Really appreciated your help on Saturday. Hope to see you again!

[rambo granny]

Here's 1 1/2 minute movie link. No time to properly fully edit but you get the idea of the "historic flaming hot shoot". Includes sound.

30 day link replaced with Link to my Dropbox. (Free and no need to join)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l68z3deeo8f3by6/Homestead%20March%2025-26%2C%202023.MOV?dl=0

[Not Sure]

Great video.  Thanks for sharing.  Too bad such a great day was cut short.

Is it OK to blame the line boss for calling FIRE?

[9mm4545]

Calling out CEASEFIRE CEASEFIRE CEASEFIRE was tried annd although the shooters stopped shooting, there was no effect on the blaze that I could tell.

[Not Sure]

30 minutes of uninterrupted fire after calling CEASEFIRE three times has to be a new record that shall hopefull never be broken.