Appleseed Project it’s more than Marksmanship

If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time you’ve read about my experiences with the Appleseed Project.  From my first shoot, the 7th step of Appleseed, and even eventually earning my Rifleman Patch.  Everything I’ve written about so far is about rifle marksmanship.  The Appleseed Project is more than just rifle marksmanship.  It teaches the history of what started the revolutionary war.  They explain how rifle marksmanship won the war.  You get a feel for the attitude our founding fathers had.  Why they were willing to die for their beliefs.  On top of the history you get a sense of friendship that you don’t get in other places.  There is something special about each and every Appleseed shoot that’s more than just a rifle marksmanship class.

The History

Even for those who hated history in school.  The Three strikes that started the Revolutionary War as told by the Appleseed Project is amazing.  It’s not all dates and people.  It’s the actions and thoughts.  The wants and realities of the people on April 19th 1775.   The first thing you’ll find out right away is that much of the history you learned in school was just plan false.  Paul Revere didn’t ride through the countryside screaming “the british are coming”.   He wasn’t even the only rider out warning the people of the British regulars movements.  Much of the history you learned in school will be relearned during an Appleseed Project shoot.

The First Strike

The First Strike is all about the events that lead up to massacre on Lexington green.  This is when you find out the truth about Paul Revere’s ride and those who helped him.  The telling of the first strike makes you understand the feelings and thoughts of our forefathers on April 19th 1775.  It explains how so many men turned out on Lexington green and why they were willing to stand up to the British Army.  By the end of the story you begin to realize how a change in just a few simple events, could have affected all of history.  If Colonel Smith has skipped his orders, or not allowed a “victory volley” and 3 “huzzas”.  The rest of the day maybe have turned out much different.

The Second Strike

The Second Strike that started the revolutionary war, follows Colonel Smith’s men to the North Bridge.  After the British army almost burned down Concorde by accident.  They moved onto the North Bridge.  All while the Acton minutemen tried to decide what to do about Smith’s army.  When Caption Davis and his minutemen encounter the British regulars on the North Bridge you get a sense of the war starting.  This was the first time American’s fired back on the British army.

To say you get a sense of pride as you listen to the story during an Appleseed Project shoot is an understatement.  When you hear that the casualty rate among the British ranks was 7% it’s disappointing.  Until you understand that 44% of those casualties were British officers. Proving that rifle marksmanship played a huge roll in the events of the day.  What really hits home about this story is how you are following an American tradition of learning marksmanship just like your forefathers who fought for your freedom.  This is what set’s the Appleseed project apart from any other marksmanship program.  You get to learn the why.

The Third Strike

Although the first two strikes helped start the war, without the third and final strike the war may never have happened.  After the incident at the North Bridge the regulars knew they needed to head back to Boston.  They were short on supplies, and more minuteman were arriving.  The match was lit on the war at Merriam’s Corner.  As the regulars had condense their ranks to cross a small bridge, the rear guard turned and fired a volley at some Americans.  This was last strike that lit the match and started the war.  This is when American militia fired on the British and started the war.  Of course this wasn’t the last time that day the militia would fire on the British Army.  In fact they attacked them all the way back to Boston.  Of course the whole story and lots more can be heard during an Appleseed shoot.

This is just a small bit of information to let you understand the history you learn.   These are the stories and history that make you understand how rifle marksmanship formed America.   Each battle along the Battle Road required that the militia be well-trained in marksmanship.  Had those militia members not been accurate with a musket the whole day may have turned out much different.

The Nationalism

Appleseed Project is non-political.  You won’t hear anything about current politics at a shoot.  At most you may get a reference to the freedoms our forefathers fought for and questions if we have lived up to those sacrifices.  Spending 2 days learning marksmanship and hearing the history.  Really starts to give you a sense of nationalism.  It makes you long for more freedom in your life, and makes you question if you are living up to the ideals our forefathers fought for.

The Friendships

If learning Revolutionary War history isn’t enough to understand Appleseed isn’t just about Rifle Marksmanship.  The friendships and comradery you gain definitely will.  I will be the first to admit I’m terrible with names.  However, I will never forget the man who shot a Rifleman’s score with a bolt-action rifle.  He loved the challenge so much he made Rifleman with a scoped rifle, iron sights, and a bolt-action.  Then there was the guy with a 1903.  Granted, he had a hard time loading and finishing each stage on the AQT, but he was persistent and alway in a good mood.  Not to mention the Shoot Bosses I’ve met, and the instructors that have helped me.  Each one of them great in their own way.  Each one of them I will have a hard time forgetting about.  Even if I can’t always remember their names.  Something about spending a weekend at an Appleseed shoot helps you make new and amazing friends.

Going Forward

If learning the true history of the Revolutionary war, the feeling of nationalism, and the new friends you meet isn’t enough.  The Appleseed project gives you the opportunity to give back.  After you have scored a Rifleman’s score twice and attended 2 different shoots.  You get the chance to give to others.  All you have to do is tell your Shoot Boss or any other Appleseed instructor you want to help.  They will start you on your path to learning how to instruct others.  This allows you to give back to the organization that helped you become a better rifle marksman and taught you the ideals and attitude of our forefathers.   Of course for those who want to help before you earn your Rifleman patch.  You can always become a Blue Hat and help with administrative tasks.  They can always use help with the behind the scenes organization.

Conclusion

There are lots of reasons to go to Appleseed Project Shoot.  Most people go to learn Rifle Marksmanship.  However, the history, nationalism, and friendships bring them back.  Anyone can spend two days learning try to pass a test and then never bother again.  Appleseed brings something out of everyone that makes them want to strive for the Rifleman Patch.  The history makes them want to be better Americans.  Each individual aspect of Project Appleseed is nothing new or special.  When you combine them, something amazing happens and people love it.