Project Appleseed’s Rifle Marksmanship Program
Dr. John Woods 01.12.15
An organization by the name of the Revolutionary War Veterans Association is a non-profit that has developed a special program called Project Appleseed. The focus of the project is to sponsor weekend shooting events to teach the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship and intertwine these skills with the history and heritage of our great nation.
According to information about Project Appleseed, the RWVA believes that “rifle skills are becoming a lost art in modern America, but we feel that they are as important today as they were on April 19th, 1775 when the first shots were fired on Lexington Green.”
“Throughout American History, marksmanship played a vital role in the shaping of our country. Our colonial forefathers exhibited effective marksmanship skill and this was an essential element in winning our freedom.” “A modern rifleman can consistently hit targets out to 500 yards. Will you learn these skills and pass the legacy on to future generations, or will you let the tradition die?” Well, will you?
I was contacted recently by a volunteer for the RWVA organization, Heather Francis, sending me information about this unique marksmanship shooting program. Knowing the Alloutdoor.com readership like I do, I knew they would be interested in learning more details about Project Appleseed.
Coming this March in Ramseur, North Carolina will be a Project Appleseed week long rifle clinic. Specifically the course will be held March 29-April 3, 2015. Called a Rifleman Boot Camp, this training and shooting course will be offered eventually in almost every state throughout the year. A full calendar listing of Project Appleseed events for each state can be viewed on their website.
The Project Appleseed week long “Rifleman Boot Camp” marksmanship clinic will be held at the Revolutionary War Veterans Association home range, located at Willie Wright and Royal Ridge Road in the town of Ramseur. This community is south of Greenboro off Interstate 220.
Registration begins at 8am. The clinic will begin at 8:30 and will continue with activities throughout each day until 5pm.
We Make Riflemen
Participants are taught fundamental rifle marksmanship skills that enable a rifleman to be accurate out to 400 yards with iron sights, using standard rifles. Instruction will be conducted on the firing range at multiple distances, including ranges of 25-100-200-300-400 yards.
Students will learn numerous rifle shooting positions, including standing, sitting, and prone positions. Also taught will be the basic skills of safe gun handling, proper use of a rifle sling, and Revolutionary war history. Sounds like both a very comprehensive and activity filled training course. I cannot imagine any rifle shooter not wanting to attend this course.
Participants signing up for the boot camp should be prepared to bring basic shooting supplies and gear with them, including eye and ear protection, a rifle shooting mat, bug repellent, a hat, sunscreen, shooting jacket, elbow and/or knee pads (bring both), a rain jacket, a notebook and several pencils or pens, any tools needed for your rifles, packed foods, snacks, and drinks, including plenty of bottled water.
There will be free primitive camping and potable water available on site. Several hotels are located in the area within easy driving distance of Siler City and Asheboro, North Carolina, which are near Ramseur. Ramseur is a very small community.
Two rifles will be needed to participate in the Appleseed boot camp. These should be a .22 caliber and a centerfire rifle of the student’s choice. Be prepared to bring 1,000 rounds of .22 rimfire ammunition and 500 rounds of centerfire ammo for taking the week long course.
Fees for the course are $150 for adults; youth under the age of 18 only pay $50. All law enforcement and active duty military personnel can attend the boot camp free. Registration is available online.
One of the instructors, Ken Tomblin, is a retired engineer who volunteers for the RWVA organization. Nicknamed the “Shoot Boss,” Tomblin teaches the boot camp “Because I finally learned what a Republic is, finally learned what the Constitution says and means, because I swore an oath with no expiration date to defend that same Constitution, and because at long last I understand what an unalienable right is, and what that means. Because of these things, I teach with Appleseed.” Those things he learned by serving in the U.S. Army.
Trey Dawson is a regional coordinator for the Appleseed Project. “The RBC or Rifleman Boot Camp is a week long event intended to produce rifle marksmanship and American Heritage instructors whether they do so for Project Appleseed or simply on their own. It is the course of study upon which our weekend events are based. The 5-6 day RBC is followed by a weekend event where the RBC students are able to apply their newly minted skills as instructors in training on the firing line.”
If this sounds at all like a program you would like to participate in, then I encourage you to go on their web site and check out all the details about the Revolutionary War Veterans Association and their week long Rifleman Boot Camps or their state weekend shooting programs.
I can see such a shooting-training program helping anybody who wishes to increase their skill base with shooting rifles, both a rimfire and a centerfire of your choice. If it were me, I would pick rifles I use for other activities such as hunting, property protection, or shooting competitions or just plinking. We can never shoot our rifles well enough, but proper training and practice can sure make the difference.
