OPERATION PILE DRIVER: Range Improvement Day, April 2nd, 2005

Range Improvement and Pioneer Training

Left: Work Detail. Not pictured is Thumper.                                     Right: Pioneer class.

Okay, the range was in sad shape. The backstop was in ruins, we had zero functioning pin tables, debris littered the landscape, and the outhouse was full of...well, it needed attention. Coming up in two weeks is our annual "Come-one-come-all, meet some militia people, shoot some guns, eat some burgers, have some fun" event, which we now call Militia Field Day.

Work needed to be done, in a bad way. Well, it turns out, we had the right crew present for this. Led by Master Engineer CPL Punishment from The Bay County Militia, along with Mad Hatter, the range got fixed fast quick and in a hurry.

Debris needed to be burned. This included the old swinging window and door assemblies that were cool back in the day, but have since rotted and sagged beyond use. Other debris included older pallets, table fragments, unusable bowling pins (there were many) and the shattered remains of the backstop. This made for a nifty bonfire. There was also a nifty fire going to sanitize the outhouse.

The Backstop:

   The backstop required total replacement. The old door blanks were removed, and the old wood was burned. New, stronger phone poles were sunk into place, and new door blanks suspended upon them. The digging with a post hole digger to sink in the poles was hard work. Big kudos to the engineer team of CPL Punishment and Mad Hatter on this. Particle board was hung on the doors to which we can staple targets. The support posts and areas near them were painted with black and yellow stripes to warn people not to shoot at them. This is the best the backstop has ever looked.

Above: A new, lemony-fresh backstop, with new pin tables.

The Bowling Pin Tables:

   New pallets, phone poles, door blanks, and particle board were assembled and roughly leveled to facilitate the bowling pin shoot. We will level these one more time the morning of the event. They are much sturdier than the mere pallet tables we have had in the past.

The Doors:

    The old swinging doorways were taken down and disposed of, via the "Hey, we have more stuff to throw on the already-too-big fire" technique. New doors were installed for tactical entry training. This will be fun. Come to training.

The Cooking Area:

    Debris around the cooking area was cleaned up, and the fire pit was cleaned out. Chuck Wagon placed his new propane grill next to the BBQ barrels. This will make the whole cooking process faster, more efficient, and hopefully tastier.

Above: Mr. Kong checks out the BBQ area...

The area around the cooking area and the range:

    Debris was picked up, mostly by Hunter and his daughter, Kim. They filled several bags with cans and other scrap. The whole place looks much better because of this. Later, Kim would shoot a rifle for the first time. She knocked down some pins with impressive regularity. Could be a natural shooter, there...

Above: Hunter and his daughter Kim. She shot well.

The Outhouse:

   The pit was burned and dug out further, a new roof was installed, a new seat installed, the inside was raked, a new door was installed, and a nice coat of paint applied to an already spiffy outhouse. Thumper had the courage to oversee this operation, and he did a splendid job. I'm am not going to tell you that it is worth the trip just to come and use this nifty outhouse, but if you are concerned about facilities, have no fear.

Above: Sometimes Thumper outdoes himself...

The Pioneer Class:

    Concurrently with all of the range work and wondrous feats of engineering, the Pioneer class was into its second weekend so far. From what I saw, they had a fun time trying to start a fire using just sticks and para-cord, the covered Roger's Rangers rules, did a tactical march, and some patrolling. They also stayed overnight and pulled guard duty. Hunter and Kim also stayed overnight. Six informed earlier that if we needed some help, he could suspend the class for a spell to help, but it seemed that this was not necessary. I hope to get a brief field report from one of the Pioneer attendees to post here soon.

I think the range was improved spectacularly, and I was impressed by CPL Punishment and Mad Hatter and their work on the backstop, pin tables and doors. Hunter and Kim did a valuable service by picking up a lot of debris, Chuckwagon did a good job on readying the cooking area and "The 100-yard Lounge", Thumper hooked up the outhouse, and Mr. Kong was generally helpful everywhere, by volunteering for any number of tasks.

The Pioneer class seems to be going well, and I hope they are encouraged to keep it up. It is difficult at times so surge into uncharted areas, and to try new things, and this whole group of guys seems suited to the task of not only enduring the first such class, but more importantly, helping to hammer out the details and issues about how and what such a class should be.

We hope to see you all at Militia Field Day, and at future training. Keep your gas tank full, keep your powder dry, and keep your blades sharpened...

Standing Orders: Roger's Rangers:

1. Don't forget nothing.

2. Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning.

3. When you're on the march, act the way you would if you was sneaking up on a deer. See the enemy first.

4. Tell the truth about what you see and do. There is an army depending on us for correct information. You can lie all you please when you tell other folks about the Rangers, but don't never lie to a Ranger or officer.

5. Don't never take a chance you don't have to.

6. When we're on the march we march single file, far enough apart so one shot can't go through two men.

7. If we strike swamps, or soft ground, we spread out abreast, so it's hard to track us.

8. When we march, we keep moving til dark, so as to give the enemy the least possible chance at us.

9. When we camp, half the party stays awake while the other half sleeps.

10. If we take prisoners, we keep 'em separate til we have had time to examine them, so they can't cook up a story between 'em.

11. Don't ever march home the same way. Take a different route so you won't be ambushed.

12. No matter whether we travel in big parties or little ones, each party has to keep a scout 20 yards ahead, twenty yards on each flank and twenty yards in the rear, so the main body can't be surprised and wiped out.

13. Every night you'll be told where to meet if surrounded by a superior force.

14. Don't sit down to eat without posting sentries.

15. Don't sleep beyond dawn. Dawn's when the French and Indians attack.

16. Don't cross a river by a regular ford.

17. If somebody's trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your own tracks, and ambush the folks that aim to ambush you.

18. Don't stand up when the enemy's coming against you. Kneel down. Hide behind a tree.

19. Let the enemy come till he's almost close enough to touch. Then let him have it and jump out and finish him up with your hatchet