Evansville, IN: Red Brush Rifle Range, 6/24-25 25m AAR

[Big John]

On a very hot, humid weekend in SW Indiana, 7 shooters gathered with the instructor cadre to learn History and Marksmanship.

Under the flags of our countrymen, the instruction taught and the history recited. Massive improvements in the accuracy of the students occurred, with several going from no hits on the Hits Count Redcoat at the beginning of Saturday to many targets dispatched on the afternoon. The students persevered in the heat, perhaps inspired by the telling of the strikes.

On Sunday, the students returned, ready to dispatch the AQTs after a brief review. It was....even hotter. A Rifleman showed he knew what he was about; David took his patch. Kate, who pushed her rifle to effectiveness all weekend, was knocking on the door. The other two youths, along with Kate, showed they understood the history and earned the William Diamond patch.

The Caliente Seed morale patched was earned by all for perseverance in the heat.

Many instructors requalified. WilderMars was presented with a Son of Liberty patch for youth IITs. Sur+Rifle and Darkfoot took 25 shoot pins. Jayshoneybunny and Cheriesgeek were in their freshly minted Instructor hats and made the shoot safer and better with their presence.

Pictures to follow.

[Big John]

Captions:
1. Sur+Rifle gives some introduction to the students.
2. Jayshoneybunny teaches the Hits Count Redcoat
3. The Prone Steady Hold Factors are taught by Sur+Rifle and Cheriesgeek to the students.
4. Hasty Sling is shown as an alternative.
5. David, August, Anderson, and Aaron practice the prone position.
6. William does the same.
7. The equipment line shelter has been augmented with the Appleseed flag set.
8. Transition to prone is taught by Jayshoneybunny and modeled by CheriesGeek.
9. Seated position is tried out by William and Kate in the foreground.
10. The rest of the line in seated.
11. Andrew tries the standing position.
12. Kate and William also do standing.
13. Cheriesgeek uses an Battle Road banner as an aid in telling the Third Strike.
14. Sunday morning, the line on a seated stage of the AQT
15. ...and in standing, with David in the front.
16. We had enough instructors to requalify, so WilderMars did so.
17. Anderson and David in standing.

[Big John]

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[sur+rifle]

What a terrific shoot.  Thank you to all for making it so memorable.

[Fireball]

HOOAH! 

Thanks to all the instructors for a great weekend of instruction and education!  Yes, it was hot.  Very hot.  Even so, my 12 y.o. son (August)  and I very much enjoyed the whole event.  Though he was disappointed in not becoming a rifleman, once he got some rest and cleaned up he admitted that it was better than just being handed the title.  He understood he needed to earn it, and he exhibited some real maturity and understanding.  He asked if we could go back, maybe when it was a bit cooler 

Everyone did a fantastic job of staying on task and the instructors were very cognizant of the heat and adjusted instruction and events as necessary.  The focus on safety at Appleseed extends well beyond safe firearms handling.  Hydration, calorie intake, work/rest cycles...all of it.  Really well done.

As promised here are some pics of the family at Concord and Battle Road.  August, the now 12 y.o. is the bigger of the two and the one with the musket.







Happy 4th to all!


Dave "Fireball"