OPERATION: FLOATING PIE PLATES, 06 NOV 2004

Submitted By Bishop

Saturday Nov 6th was about as nice a day as anyone could ask for.  Perfect weather (maybe a bit breezy) bright sun and mild temperatures.

As I arrived, early morning sighting in was just wrapping up.  We had several new visitors as well as some well known ones, and by the end of the day at least 20 people had come out for training.

I spent the rest of the morning as range officer, helping a new militiaman get 'em on the plate.  Meanwhile Super6 and Mak 9 headed the crowd out for a good old fashioned road march.  Everyone made good time and a couple brave souls crossed the finish line at a run.

Chow time followed with ChuckWagon providing the always-welcome burgers and beans.

After chow, we had one man shoot for score.  He did just fine, getting eight out of ten with an SKS.  After that, ChuckWagon and I put in some more range time, teaching some basic skills to three folk who'd never shot a gun.  Two of these were interested in the militia academically.  I hope they have gotten a good impression and will spread a good word about us.  The third was a youngster just starting out on what may be a lifetime love for freedom and (of course) firearms - and you can't have one without the other.  Meanwhile, the rest of the gang headed off into the woods.

As told by Mak 9:

First, 13 of us went a little into the woods, where Super6 gave a good class on team movements, hasty ambush, and reacting to enemy fire. After a while we were joined by the former marine, who had just qualified on the range.

Next, we broke into 2, six man teams. For the next ten minutes, each team practiced on their own, moving, and hand signals.

Then we both went on a patrol to find two enemies. We did bounding overwatch as we neared the junk yard (where we suspected we would find our target). And we did find him there, of course! After securing the site, and noting there was only one enemy, we decide to continue to find the other suspected enemy (Super6).

Of course on our way back, we found the joker in the deck (Bishop), waiting to ambush us.

After Super6 was located and deemed not a threat, we took a break and did our after-action review.

As Mak9 indicated, I headed into the woods for a little bit of recon.  I stood in the open with my face and hands covered and held as still as possible.  As I watched the patrols coming my way, I couldn't help but realize that the bright white faces (with no camo) looked just like nine inch pie plates floating through the forest.  Camo works!  Several people had a hard time seeing me and I was just standing there.

While the rest of the gang went through their after action reviews, ChuckWagon and I headed up to Mr. Stasa's to help move some construction material.  As I emerged from "the dome" I saw Super6 walking along with the new level one man, helping him get his road march in.

The day ended with a good old four-pin shoot.  Of note was a fantastic performance by Tinman who felled a pin at one hundred yards with one shot from an AK!! The rest of his shoot was excellent as well - good work Tinman!  Mouse also shot remarkably well, making quick work  of the exercise and setting an excellent example to follow - Mouse and his AR make a good team.

Happiness is a new, accurate AK...	Damn I have to shoot AND hold this tree up.

I  hope to see everyone out there again next time!

Further Report from Super Six 

(That's him with his new SCOPED .308 on the SMVM page...):

On 5 Nov, 2004 Tinman and myself were on site and secured the training area.  21:30 hr, the GP tent prepared our racks and waited in hopes for more troops to show.  Then 22:30 – yes Guard Duty.  Tinman and myself pulled two road security patrols down to the entrance of the training area.  Tinman is so proud of his new AK47… Saturday = 420 rounds worth of taking the edge off.  Anyway, 23:00 was Night Infiltration of south east corner of the field.  Then 01:30 – 06 Nov, 2004 sack time.  Wake up was at 07:00.  It was a bit cool yet wonderfully bright and brisk day. 

First to show up was Scope Master, RoadKill with 1 guest and Mak 9.  Slowly but surely in 1s and 2s and 3s they came till we had quite a few, with (3) from Jackson County.  Two members from Monroe County; one armed with the trusty K31 Schmidt Ruben the other with an AR15 – GO FIGURE!!  One thing about the militia – (you will see all kinds of weapons). 

By 11:00 hours, all were assembled and the training began.  Road march conducted by Mak 9 and rifle training conducted by Bishop.  Our new Level 1 qualified ex-Marine Aircraft Mech. - code name Unknown.  Congrats to Him.  Also, there were 2 students from EMU who came out to observe the activities on the range.

Guest Student Angela from EMU	Chilimac, of course...

12:00 hours – CHOW TIME.  “Chuck Wagon’s” time to shine – beans and burgers.  12:30 Bread and Butter training.  React to fire.  Hasty Ambush – fire team movement.  As the 2 teams broke into walk through mode, I took Sabre 21 to the tree for the issue of training aids which was mostly faulty/damp pyrotechnics.  At that time Sabre 21 occupied the objective position and waited for the patrols to come into his kill zone.  True breakdown of the team movements after the initial contact was out of my immediate field of view.  However the after action report (AAR) seemed to indicate that the position was taken with minimal lost.  Not bad considering that ¾ of the total assets had never trained together.  After the AAR, it was time for the 4 pin shoot.  About half on hand participated, most notable was the outstanding 1^st round hit at 100 yards from a Rom AK wielded by Tinman.  After the 4 pin shoot again chow time, but this time we were on our own.  Chuck Wagon had left, myself and 2 other dedicated Militia Members stayed Saturday night, hoping we would have some turn up Sunday.  But by 11:30 hours 07 Nov, 2004 no one had showed up so we 3 were out of there.

Also a great big thanks to all who were in on the work detail for Frank.  Moving his doors into the dome- Frank does need our help sometimes so thanks to all of you.  Keep up the good work.

Training will begin at 0800 hours on the first Saturday of December – not 1000 hours.   Daylight hours are less and less – let’s get out there and train!!

God Bless America

S. Six

No Bench Shooting Here...

Michigan Militia locates Gilligan and crew....