I arrived late for training at Camp Stasa. As far as I knew there was not any formal plan for this training. I had decided that it would be a good idea to get some clean up done. Also to begin assessing what tasks would need to be done to spruce up the place in preparation for this year's TaxBLAST. 

    Upon arriving I was quite pleasantly surprised. I checked in with Frank and found out that members of Macomb County were already on scene. I saw as I drove back to the range that Lt.Col Wilks had a team hard at work. They were at the backstop replacing the rails that serve as mounting point for the cardboard backdrop that we affix the targets to. Master Sargent David had donated wood that he had gotten from one of the major home repair chains. Hank and the guys were replacing the odd 2x4's with pressure treated 4x6's. The much stouter lumber was bolted together and affixed to the uprights all the way across the backstop. The resulting rails are now strong enough to hold Hank suspended in mid air.

    Once the new rails were in the fellas began affixing scrap pieces of sheeting to them, there wasn’t enough sheeting to span the whole gap, this time but Hank said he should have no problem coming up with more.

     I for one would like to thank Hank and Mike and the rest of their team, they saw a need. They not only came up with the funds to get the materials but they showed up with the tools and materials in hand and DID THE WORK!

    After they worked they trained. Mike had at least two guys who needed to qualify level one. He went over their gear. Held a very brief drill and ceremony lesson and then the set off for the 2-mile hike.

    While they were off I picked up some of the left over construction debris. The fellas had policed most of it as they worked. After that I hung targets on the new backstop and set up some bowling pins (you know me I love to bowl). When Mike and his team got back. We let Mike's guys have the first crack at the new backstop. The two guys that were attempting to qualify were given time to sight in and then shot several volleys. Unfortunately one guy's smelly old battle rifle needed some minor repair, he had to swap out his firing pin. He had the parts and all the tools necessary. However it turned out that the ammo was "defective" not the rifle apparently the rounds he had with him had hard primers that would not fire the first time they were struck. Later after he had given up (for the day) trying to qualify. He found that they all fired after being struck for a second time. Neither shooter was able to qualify at this time the sun was beginning to set.

    When they were done Lou and I had only a few minutes to safely bowl a few frames and otherwise target shoot. I know I didn't mind, I was glad to give up some range time for guys who were trying to qualify.

    One of the Mikes guys, Tom had made himself a hooded jacket. It is constructed of a winter camouflage material. It had white splotches on it and the rest of it consisted of dark patches. His jacket provided a good amount of breakup if he had white or off white pants he would have been more concealed. At a distance his jacket being mostly dark colors blended in well with the tree line. However his dark pants made him noticeable especially when traveling across an open snow covered area.