In September of 2001, several of us deployed to an undisclosed location in Monroe County to train and get rained on.

Several dedicated Macomb County members were also present. Also, we enjoyed the company of a good friend from Washtenaw County.

There was the obligatory function check of rifles. Do this.

We also worked on removing more stumps, in an effort toward increasing the range to nearly 200 yards. Chopping out stumps is not a festival of relaxation. We will continue to hack at this issue when we are out there. Volunteers are encouraged to contact us. Bring your axes and shovels.

Then, after that bit of glee, we went out on a tactical movement. We soon discovered that persons of the unauthorized variety had been celebrating something on the back end of the property. This was distressing, so we set about obstaclating the property to prevent this sort of thing. Debris, which had been rudely deposited on the property by local persons, presumably of Appalachian descent, was set up as a first line of defense. The unwanted asphalt was busted up and piled into a second obstacle (yes, someone had actually paved property that was not theirs, without the owner's permission. Refer to Appalachian remarks above....). A small ditch, just enough to prevent normal vehicular access, added to the mix. Several other measures were also taken, the likes of which we will not discuss here.

This was a wee bit tiresome, and adding to the earlier stump removal efforts, there was only one thing really left to do: shoot.

Some of the folks left, and the rest of us stayed in the rain, and did some four-pin shooting drills. This is the ultimate fall-back, dead space drill. Nothing to do? Do the four pin shoot. Everybody's time seemed to be a bit worse than normal, except Adam. This was probably due to the rain.

If you are shooting a scoped weapon, and intend on wearing a helmet, make sure that the helmet allows you to use the scope, and make sure that your gear or vest does not push your helmet forward into your scope. Check this stuff out BEFORE a critical situation arises. That's why we train.

This was another one of those days when I came home from training much more tired than when I come home from work.I have to say it was a good day.

Come out and see for yourself.