Muenster TX April 19 2025 After Action Report

[AF5US]

Well ladies and gentlemen - with the exception of the weather, I don't think I could have asked for a better event to mark the 250th anniversary - to the day - of Lexington and Concord.

Then again, the day wasn't exactly mild and pleasant 250 years ago, either.

Due to the fact that Easter was Sunday, this was a one-day event.  The instructors arrived early, we made a plan, and we went at it.  Our brave shooters then came through, despite a lot of rain and a little lightning.  Thank goodness the lightning quickly subsided.

After a brief introduction, ScottInTX set the stage with the history pre-amble and Apprentice Carpenter regaled us with the first strike. 

Making his debut appearance was MonocogMike - working his first event as an orange hat and teaching us about safety (and doing a great job as line boss later that afternoon).  After the Hits Count, we're on to the instruction.  Finally it's on to the squares, and people are doing great for grouping.  Time for lunch then!

It was, of course, a working lunch.  They lunched and we worked.  Mackey Morgan told us of the famous second strike, then it's on to Talking Targets and an understanding of MOA.  Lunch is then packed up and it's time for a few more squares as we sight in our rifles.

After an exercise in carding the sights, rifleman's cadence and dry-practicing magazine changes we conclude with the thrilling third strike of the match - which then seemed an appropriate time for our very special presentation on one Mr. Heath, and a passing of the patches.

The new Parker's Revenge team target is typically planned for a 2 day event, but we just couldn't wait and had to try it out.  Congratulations to our Trail Life family - a group of (mostly) returning people, that made high score and earned a Project Appleseed lapel pin!  This took us right up to the famous April 19 volley, and a solemn moment it was.  A list men that gave their life for the freedoms we enjoy, 250 years ago this very day.

Finally it's on to the Standing and Sitting part of the instruction, and shooting the AQT as we go.  Congratulations to Oscar for earning the coveted Project Appleseed rifleman patch!  Several others came very, very close.  Unfortunately looking at the radar, the decision was made that it was time to call it before severe weather returned.  Inspired by "Captain" this benediction was a new one (well, for me) and a presentation of one Dr. Joseph Warren was presented.  It seemed fitting, considering the work he did with Heath.

After the day was officially wrapped, several of the instructors jumped on the line and earned their April 19 rifleman patch as well.  It just so happens that there's a private youth event in one week at this same range, and a couple of the other instructors made what was probably the wiser decision to earn their patch then (that radar wasn't looking pretty).  One or two of the brave participants also live pretty close to this range and have been invited back next Sunday for another crack at the AQT - it's a little heartbreaking to come within a handful of points for rifleman, especially when there's only one AQT on a one-day event.

A very sincere "thank you" (in no particular order) to SassyLassy, MonocogMike, ScottInTX, Locke Enload, ApprenticeCarpenter, Mackey Morgan, Steck and mrakestraw.  You represented everything from brand-new IITs to Senior Instructors, and I can honestly say that you all knocked it out of the park.  One day events are ALWAYS a bit of a rush but ESPECIALLY today with all of the special activities and history we presented.  I mean it sincerely when I say that the reason this day was a success was entirely because of you and your efforts - doing everything that was asked of you and more, and being right there next to the participants helping coach and support.

Most importantly, THANK YOU to everyone that came out to participate in the April 19 event.  The weather was questionable, but you showed true commitment and came out anyway - and did it with a smile.  I sincerely hope that this day was meaningful to each of you, it certainly was to us.  I very much look forward to seeing all of you in the future.

After all - a LOT of you would look GREAT in an orange hat