This was good weekend; in addition to our regulars, we saw new faces, and three ladies, to include both our Level 1 qualified women (it’s not just a guy thing). Free men and women, who understand what that means; in the field – training; making the sacrifice in time, money and convenience, for no other reason than they have simply acknowledged it’s their duty as Americans to do so. That their country expects them to be a citizen soldier; that it is a requirement of a free people and free country.

We did 3 two-mile hikes, one every time another group arrived (being late does not get you out of this…). We practiced hand and arm signals and fire team movement on all of these hikes, which was of course my idea (I’m getting quite popular...). Mike W. from Macomb Co., who was the FTX officer for this weekend, conducted about an hour DnC (drill and ceremony) routine. This was new, as we usually don’t do this sort of thing (DnC is not usually done in the field because it would identify the leaders to snipers, making them targets.). Although the jury is still out, the team movement part really seemed to have a unifying effect. I think we should at least consider working that aspect into a regular drill. In any case, Mike did a great job - thanks Mike!

After the hand and arm signals class, we opened up the range and Walt volunteered for range officer duty. We only had one person (Hank) who was attempting to qualify for his Level 1 shooting; we try to give persons who are qualifying priority on the range to give them more time to practice. He was shooting a Russian Tokarev 7.62x54 that has an adjustable gas system on it that still needs some tweaking. Hank didn’t get the required shots in, but he will be back next month to try again. 8 out of 10 shots on a 9 inch target at a 100 yards is the shooting requirement for Level One; it is not a "give me" but with practice, it is an achievable goal that every person can reach.

Kristin gave Walt’s post-ban AR-15 .223 a try, but the stock as usual was just too long; we have found for the ladies that the standard size stocks are almost always too big. She was also going to shoot his L1A1 .308, but it was acting up due to the temperature drop. Kristin has a pre-ban AR-15 with a collapsible stock, so she’s set. Pre-ban guns are quite expensive, a more inexpensive option would be to simply shorten the stock of a post-ban by cutting it down an inch or so - but be sure that the overall length is still going to be legal – This is important.

Shooting continued until dusk, at which time we took a dinner break. Afterwards, Mike took a fire team off for some night maneuvers, Dale, Walt, and myself (being exhausted), stayed behind in the Griffin's Den and relaxed with the ladies. We had a discussion on militia principles and practices, and Walt agreed to run a portion of the training next month (April 21-22…)

The night passed without incident, and I awoke to a light snowfall of about an inch, and the sound of geese flying overhead, and the need to cut some more firewood – everyone else awoke to the sounds of me and the chainsaw... For once the wind was not blowing, and it was a pleasant morning. It was soon time to head out and we finished up another good training.

For those who doubt, for those who express skepticism, for those who don’t understand, and despite the seeming impossibilities; we do exist, we train, and we are growing. Over the last year we have grown in numbers, we have grown in sophistication, professionalism, and legitimacy. We continue to refine our training, web-page, public image and knowledge; Level 1 has, and is being adopted throughout the state and across the country; our web site is the best out there, we continue to get more and more hits every week; our Army Ammo Drive has just received its first press coverage which resulted in a militia-friendly story in the Detroit Free Press; we have attracted intelligent, committed, professional people to include those who are prior service.

We exist; we have already won…

Nick

Attendees: Nick and Kristin and their three children, Mike Wilks, Frank and his wife, two guys I didn't know (one of which kept referring to Mike Wilks, who was wearing Lt. Col. rank, as "Sir") who seemed to be from Macomb county, Sherry and myself.

Everyone's spirits were high. Just after Sherry and I got there Mike and the other guys did a two-mile hike - I dropped out after a mile, as I didn't want to go farther 'till I got used to walking two - three miles around my neighborhood in the upcoming weeks.

Mike Wilks then taught a class: For about an hour we practiced D-n-C (Drill and Ceremony): Attention, At Ease, Right Face, About Face, Column Left, By The Left Flank, Incline Left, and Present Arms (Salute). Then we practiced moving in formation: Column, Staggered and Wedge formations, Traveling, Traveling Overwatch and Bounding Overwatch. All in the range area between berm and the white storage shed.

After class was dismissed I heated up a couple of MREs for Sherry and myself, then shot the AR-15 and the L1A1. The AR-15 shot just fine. The L1A1 had some failures to feed when temp dropped.

After it got dark Mike Wilks went out on a night patrol - I didn't go - I talked with Nick and Kristin inside the tent (it was warm and light in there with the wood stove and the gas lantern on) about upcoming events at Stasa's: Range detail Sat 7 April, Tax Blast Sat 14 April, Training Sat 21 April (three consecutive weekends at Stasa's).

They have lots of wood and a couple hammers. Just need 3" nails (I said I'd bring two boxes) and help doing the work (tables and target holders for the range, temporary trench latrine for the guys were suggested).

I will be FTX officer for the training weekend on Sat 21 April. We will practice marching in formation, saying "Yes, Sir", doing pushups, and doing nude yoga meditation standing on our heads...

Just kidding - Two mile hike with gear, then target shooting until everybody's sick of target shooting. I'll check zero on my rifle(s) that I bring out there and adjust if necessary, otherwise I just plan on concentrating on getting experience constructing two things that I think are important to life in the field: the survival shelter, and the fighting hole. I see any future militia activity as a lot more defensive than offensive, so a place to rest and get dry and get warm would be important.

I plan on building another debris shelter (the survival shelter I built last time is now in the middle of a lake - I built it on low ground. Will build the next one on higher ground). Then will try to sleep and cook in it and see how it is. Goal is a semi-permanent shelter that provides protection from the elements and a place for a small cooking fire, that can be abandoned quickly (without having to take down and pack away a tent).

Fighting holes would be something else I'd like to get experience at. Unfortunately I was not a grunt (infantryman), however it seems to me that if I had to defend a position and was being subject to incoming fire - I'd rather be in a foxhole than on top of the ground.

I'm not much on night patrols as I believe the best approach to the issue of night security is to man a listening post or two away from the main camp and try to detect any intruders coming in that way. I believe that a night-time patrol of militia members stumbling around in the dark would be too easily ambushed.

Sherry didn't like the the cigarette smoke in the tent, and was cold in spite of the cotton thermal underwear she was wearing underneath the Swiss Alpenflauge uniform (will have to get her the more expensive but warmer Duofold thermals for future use), and not exactly happy with the MREs for late lunch, so will have to leave Sherry at home those three weekends and plan on leaving for Stasa's directly after work on those three Fridays previous to those weekends...

Just now remembered - nobody asked me for my $10 range fee ...

Well that's my short summary - just to let you know how it went for me...

- Walt