Matt in TN

Me and my Glocks love the rain - bring it on!

I lied - one more post. James Moriarty's family does a newsletter for friends/family of his son and he was kind enough to share with me his summary of this event. When I first heard that he was coming I felt immense pressure to "get it right" for his sake - and I can't thank each and every one of you for helping me to make that happen. I am so glad that this was a positive experience for him. Shared with permission: JFM Newsletter article on Run and Gun and TAPS When we traveled to Dover to greet Jimmy on his last trip home, I thought “I’m never going to have a hunting, fishing or kart racing trip with Jimbo again.” That left me feeling extremely sad, as it has since then, because Jimmy was my best guy friend in the world. He and I had spent countless hours racing go-karts, hunting in Mexico or Africa, camping in Montana, and countless other guy adventures. Jimmy was the finest companion any guy could have, just ask any of his friends. I even cherished getting up at 2:00am to take him to the airport so he could go back to work after a weekend of debauchery dating and socializing. In early August, I was contacted by a 5th Group Special Forces guy who told me they were going to do the first annual unofficial 5th Group 5K Run and Gun on September 9 and 10. I tried to not sound like a complete idiot for not knowing what a 5K Run and Gun is but I didn’t know if this was something that happens after you eat bad food or what. He also asked me if I wanted to participate. As he explained that this was a rifle and pistol shooting competition, combined with a 5K run intended to honor actual 5th Group combat scenarios conducted by 5th Group soldiers since 9/11. When he told me the first stage was in honor of Jimmy and Matt, I cried. Keep in mind (a) I had never done a rifle competition, (b) a pistol competition, (c) a Run and Gun nor run in anything heavier than a singlet and shorts, so I was more than a little intimidated. Like REALLY intimidated. I thought it through and concluded “Yea, I get to go shopping!!” As I did. Napoleon would have been impressed with how I kitted out. I found one of Jimmy’s old ammo carriers which I modified to fit my much less fit smaller body. When I found one of his old Army training notes in the pocket, I cried again. Setting this up gave me a chance to reach out to Jake and Carley, and to Casey [Removed], all remarkable 5th Group friends of Jimmy’s for advice on preparation and planning. Trevor Saunders, a 5th Group guy and Matt Stennett, the match director, keep me completely up to date on what was to happen and when and where. Rockcastle Shooting Center comped my room and board, Matt and Trevor arranged to get me transportation from the Nashville airport to Kentucky and I was given free admission into the competition. I did the run, finished mid pack which I considered to be a huge accomplishment and had a ball. I was made to feel like a deeply loved and honored guest and I could not have enjoyed myself more. Jimmy managed to get himself involved with the finest group of people I have ever known and he would be so pleased that his 5th Group friends keep all of us involved in their lives. I hate these wars but I love these warriors and I completely understand why Jimmy would (and did) give his life to protect them. They are the finest young people in our country and I could not love them more.

Here's the 10k Course Map. We need to do a 50k to get to ALL of the cool shooting locations Rockcastle Shooting Center has to offer, but going to a 10k helps us get to some! (map corrected 11/20/17)

Samson Manufacturing (http://www.samson-mfg.com/) has signed on as our first obstacle sponsor. Not only are they providing some cool things for the prize table, but they are providing most of the pistol targets we'll be using for the match too. They are an amazing supporter of the shooting sports!! And they have chosen the mud pits/tubes/barbed wire for their obstacle. Somebody help me come up with a catchy name for this obstacle that includes "Samson Manufacturing". The other wild card that comes with an obstacle sponsorship: the sponsor gets to add to/design/build that obstacle as they please. I always maintain final veto power as every obstacle has to be "possible" for every competitor and I have to have the time/money budget to actually build it.

Ok - which one of you bastidges is stealing all my pistol ammo? I just checked my stash and I SWEAR I'm not shooting it that fast! Oh well, back to the big blue grind to crank out some more...

Just so there is no misunderstanding or misrepresentation: this particular event is in no way affiliated with the 5th Special Forces Group or the Special Forces Association, Chapter 38 - other than I hope we get some Group guys to come out and play with us. This is just a fun match with no affiliation (yet?) that will test your resolve, your skills, and your gear at a venue I call "Disneyland For Grown-Ups". Come on out and play!

If you went last year, please note some differences: we'll be offering a 5k with 5 shooting stages on Saturday and a 10k with 7 shooting stages on Sunday. Competitors can choose to shoot either, or both. There will be separate awards and prizes for each match on each night. I'm afraid the match fees have had to go up a little to cover costs better, but hopefully it will be well worth it! More to come soon - registration will open about 90 days prior to the match And if somehow you've never heard of a "Run N Gun" or a "Centerfire Biathlon" and are wondering WTF this is - here's a short compilation video from last March's match:

Just to get on your calendar - there's a lot going on in 2018! The best place to go for information and discussion is the Facebook Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1694526563922793/?active_tab=about. If you go there and click "Interested" or "Going" you'll get notifications every time (I think?) someone posts there, and see all of the various discussions and questions asked. I'll try to repost what I think is important here and in other forums for people who refuse to be a part of Facebook - but the only way to see it all is to be a member there. To start, here are the basics: Intro: The 2018 Rockcastle Run N Gun 5&10k is a centerfire biathlon – competitors will complete a 5k or 10k run combined with a shooting competition. The event is a test of man and equipment alike. It is intended to give participants an idea of how being hot, cold, exhausted, and challenged by the environment affects their shooting, and to test the effectiveness of their gear under field conditions. This event is not intended for inexperienced shooters – all participants are expected to be familiar with the operation of their firearms, and to observe basic principles of firearm safety at all times. With the exception of emergencies, Range Officers (ROs) are not allowed to help participants in any way. Good attitudes are a must. If you are the type of person who gets upset when minor changes are made to a plan or when you don’t always get your way, this is not the event for you. Basics: Participants will receive both a score for their run based on how long it took them to complete the course, and a score for their shooting based on how long it took them to clear each course of fire. The run score and shooting score will be equally weighted in determining the participant’s final score. This is true run-what-you-brung field-style shooting, with only two equipment classes: “Combat Class” in which you must carry at least 25% of your bodyweight in gear (simulating a full load-out), or “Race Class” in which anything goes. For the most part, if you want to carry it for 5 or 10 clicks, be our guest. Shooters are expected to have all their firearms sighted in and all their gear ready to go on the morning of the shoot. There will be no zeroing at the event. Think of this as a test of how you and your equipment would perform in a Second Amendment situation if you had to go take care of business at your current state of readiness, whatever that is. Run order will be more or less random. We will try to be accommodating to participants who wish to share firearms or equipment (we can have one person run in the morning and the other in the afternoon), or to those who wish to run together. Equipment: The only equipment that is strictly required to participate is a safe center fire rifle, a safe center fire pistol, enough ammo to clear the course (at least twice the minimum required hit count is recommended), eye protection, ear protection, a flashlight, and some form of stopwatch. The rifle must shoot rifle caliber ammo (no 9mm PCC), and the pistol must shoot pistol caliber (no .223 “pistols” for the handgun targets). Everything else is up to the participant. Shooters may use any type of gear they want to carry their equipment with, the only requirement being that pistols must be carried in a secure holster that covers the trigger if they are to be carried loaded. Rifles may be carried any way you like, as long as they remain pointed in a safe direction. You may not use tracers or armor piercing bullets that have a hardened penetrator core, as we will be using lots of steel targets that we don’t want to see damaged. To be safe – if your bullet attracts a magnet or has a green tip, leave it at home. Rules: First and foremost, all participants will be expected to comply with basic firearms safety at all times. If you demonstrate inability or unwillingness to follow basic firearm safety, you will be asked to leave, with no refund and no apology. Muzzles must be pointed in a safe direction at all times, and fingers must be off the trigger unless the firearm is pointed at a target. Rifles shall only be loaded when a shooter is at a rifle stage, after the RO has given the “fire” command. Shooters may leave their handguns loaded at all times. However, loaded handguns must remain securely in a holster unless the shooter has been given the “fire” command on a shooting stage. Some stages will be active, involving moving and shooting. Firearms may remain loaded during movement, but strict muzzle discipline must be maintained. Procedures: Every shooter will be given a score card that he will be required to carry through the course. The card is how we record your score. Do not lose it or we will not be able to give you a score for the event. When a shooter approaches a station, he will be required to show a RO an empty mag well and empty chamber on his rifle. If another shooter is currently on the stage when he arrives, the one who just arrived will be instructed by a RO to start his stopwatch to keep track of his wait time (this will be subtracted off the participant’s run time when his run score is calculated). It is purely the shooter’s responsibility to keep track of his wait time. The ROs have no responsibility whatsoever to help you do this. Even if a RO offers to help you keep track of your time, you have no one but yourself to blame if this is not done. When the shooter is ready to shoot the stage, he will hand the RO his score card, and the RO will record his wait time if any. The shooter will be given a quick summary of the course of fire. The RO will ask if the shooter understands the course of fire. If the answer is yes, the shooter will be given the “fire” command, at which time he may load his rifle and/or draw his pistol and begin shooting the stage. All stages will have a zone where the shooter must fire from -- either a particular hole in a barricade that you must shoot through, or a marked zone on the ground, in which every part of your body or equipment which touches the ground must remain inside of when you fire. Hits made from outside the designated area will not count toward completion of the course of fire. Every shooting stage will have a 3 minute time limit. This is to keep the runners moving and to prevent large backups of shooters waiting to shoot a stage. At the end of that 3 minute period, the shooter will be stopped and time penalties applied to their score for any target not fully neutralized as per the course of fire requirements. If for any reason the “cease fire” command is given, you will immediately cease fire, holster your handgun, and unload your rifle. You will do likewise when you complete a stage, or time out. The RO should tell you your time for the stage. The RO will record your time on your score card. You may want to carry a pen and notepad to keep track of your score in case you lose your card, or if there is a mix-up with the scoring. Every shooter must show a RO an empty mag well and chamber on his rifle before leaving each stage. A RO will give directions on where to go to continue down the trail. Shooters are NOT required to leave their rifle’s bolt open during the run… this is actually discouraged, as it will allow lots of that beautiful Kentucky red clay to accumulate inside the action. There will be ample opportunity for this to happen on the course. The Run: The total course length is 3.2 miles (5k) or 6.2 miles (10k). The path for participants to follow will be marked with brightly colored flags and/or tape. Shooters must stay close to the marked path. Do not cut corners. Failure to follow the marked trail may take you into the impact area of a hot range!!! If the trail takes you through some difficult terrain, this is on purpose! Parts of the trail will be down a county road. Keep to the left edge of the road and watch for traffic. Your Fitness: This event is in a remote area, and you need to be aware of over-exertion. We should have some folks with medical skills on hand, but your health is your responsibility. If you start having problems, slow down... drink some water... listen to your body! There is no shame in walking the course; know yourself and your limitations. Accommodations: Attendees are highly recommended to stay at the onsite lodge for the full experience. There will be people on site all day Friday, as the ROs will be running the course. Porta-potties will be on site at most shooting locations. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 7:30 a.m Saturday morning. The safety briefing begins at 7:30 a.m. Anyone who does not get signed in by 7:30 will not be allowed to participate, so be on time. The first runner will be sent out at 8:00 a.m., and another runner will be sent out in a uniform interval thereafter. The ROs will have run the course the day before. They will be scored along with all the other contestants. After the last runner has crossed the finish line, we will calculate the results. The winners will be announced, trophies will be given out, and a drawing will be conducted for all the prizes contributed by the sponsors. How to Sign Up: The registration fee for the Rockcastle Run N Gun is $70 for the 5k and $100 for the 10k. Registration will be limited in number so all runners can finish the course before dark. Registration and payment will be handled through Practiscore, and Rockcastle will have you sign waivers the morning of the match. Make sure you are familiar with all of our rules and procedures before signing up. All participants must register under their true names. Tickets are non-transferable. Pre-registration and pre-payment is mandatory, and no walk-ons will be allowed on match day as space and time is limited. Cancellation Policy: Full refunds will be given if you withdraw more than 30 days before the match. Half your fee will be refunded if you withdraw between 14-29 days before the match. NO REFUND will be given if you withdraw less than 14 days before the match. Directions: The start and finish line are both located at the Park Mammoth Resort Lodge at Rockcastle Shooting Center. The address is 585 Park Mammoth Rd, Park City, KY 42160. This is almost exactly halfway in between the Nashville International Airport (BNA) and the Louisville International Airport (SDF) – about an easy hour and a half drive from either.

This will be my last post for this event. I can think of no more appropriate way to end this. I truly do thank God that such men lived. Thank you all for coming so far to make this happen. And never forget.

Stage 5: Baqubah Keep in mind when you're remembering how badly this stage kicked your ass, SSG Miller dragged SIX men over ONE HUNDRED meters to safety. We dragged one guy only 30 meters. The stage design actually started out with two dummy drags, but after trying it we realized not one person would finish if we didn't cut it back somewhere. Sorry for the foggy video - when I really started sweating between stages 1 and 2 my camera lens started to fog over. And it just got worse as the match progressed.

Because I'm nothing but a giant nerd, here are some stats about the 5k Match only - I didn't collect any data on the 2-Gun Shooters Sunday: The lightest weight carried was 13lbs. By percent of bodyweight, 5.8% was the lowest. 76lbs was the most weight carried, and by % bodyweight 44.2% was the highest. The fastest runner carried 42lbs, or 25.5% of his bodyweight. Yes, a Combat Class guy smoked every single one of us! The average runner carried 42lbs or 22% of their bodyweight. The average .308 guy carried 44lbs or 22% of their bodyweight. 37 out of 69 shooters finished in Combat Class (54%). The average female carried 23lbs or 17% of her bodyweight. However, I have to point out that the LIGHTEST competitor weighed in at 113lbs, signed up for Race Class, and told me multiple times she was just out there to have fun and that it sure was a beautiful day for a walk in the woods. When I did the math I found she carried 26.6% of her bodyweight over that crazy course and I don't think I EVER saw her without a smile on her face. 72% of the competitors DNF'd Stage 4 (on Saturday - the 60% DNF rate I mentioned with the video was both days combined). 51% of the competitors DNF'd Stage 5. Only 12% DNF'd Stage 3, 4% DNF'd Stage 2, and every single person finished Stage 1. And here is the firearm data:

I need the pistol practice, so I gotta go pistol. .45, of course!

Amen, brother.

While we were prepping for match, one of the 5th Group guys at one point said, almost as an aside, "You haven't seen Legion of Brothers?" "No" I said. "Is it pretty accurate?" "Yeah" he said. As with most things, I really didn't understand what he was saying at the time. I thought it was something like Blackhawk Down - maybe a little Hollywood'd up recreation of an event with some actors. But if he said it was pretty accurate maybe I'd watch it and be entertained while I learned a little bit more about what they did. I was wrong. This is a documentary - with the actual guys and their families involved in the stories. I finished it tonight, and it is so much more than I first thought it was. Buy it and watch it. We will never understand like those who were there, but I feel it is our duty as civilians to TRY to understand and not let all of what these guys and their families go through just get swept under the rug while the next "So You Think You Can Dance" episode comes on. It's sad that I'd never even heard of this movie until it was mentioned in passing just by happenstance. With all they have sacrificed, the least we can do is try to understand and remember. https://www.amazon.com/Legion-Brothers-Nutsch-Pennington-Amerine/dp/B06Y4Q213B

I've been to a lot of matches over the years, but I've NEVER called in an air strike and had artillery simulators going off around me while shooting difficult targets. Keep in mind when this really happened it was dark (around midnight), there were 20-30 bad guys instead of 5, and they were dressed just like the good guys and wearing suicide vests. And that 60% of the competitors failed to finish this course of fire that was MUCH watered down from the real thing. "We're not worthy!" doesn't even begin to cover it. Here's Stage 4: At Tanf

Stage 3: Tora Bora

Thanks man - it was great to meet and shoot with you!

Here's Stage 2: Bucket

All the pictures my awesome wife took are now uploaded on Flickr. Feel free to use them however you wish, but please give a photo credit to Lisa Stennett if you do. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lisastennett/albums/with/72157688915817325

Because the entire point of the weekend was remembering those fallen and trying to understand just a little of what our 5th Special Forces Group brothers and their families go through, I'm taking a different tack with the match videos this time. It is beyond difficult to try to summarize in a few short minutes the amazing and humbling experiences of this weekend, but this is my effort so others may try to understand. Here is Stage 1: AL JAFR

Another reminder for newbies: you will need a STOPWATCH of some sort. There's a good chance when you run up to a stage there will be someone shooting there already (and quite possibly a line of people waiting to shoot). At that point, the RO will tell you to start your wait time. Start your stopwatch, and let it run until it's your turn to move forward. During your wait time you are NOT allowed to sit, take off your gear, eat, drink, or do anything but just stand there exactly as you ran up - it's like a "timeout" and it should not give you any advantage over those who didn't have a wait time. This wait time may occur in different places depending on the stage - sometimes before the obstacle (so you have to beat the obstacle and then immediately start shooting), sometimes right before the shooting. The RO will guide you for those details.

Outstanding - glad to have you!

Another reminder - you will need eye and ear protection for this match. Yes, running with glasses on sucks. Either deal with it, or take the extra time to take your glasses off when you run and put them on before you shoot. We just have too many opportunities for ricochets and plenty of loud noises to let this go. If you show up to a shooting stage without eye and ear protection you will not be allowed to shoot and receive a zero score for the stage.

Those who know Rockcastle have already figured this out from the course map - but for everyone else: Stage 3 occurs in the complete darkness of a cave. YOU WILL NEED A LIGHT. If you show up at the cave without a light, you will not be allowed to enter the cave and will zero the stage. You cannot borrow a light from a buddy or an RO - you must carry it for the entire race. Weaponlights are fine to use while shooting, but there are portions of the cave you must navigate BEFORE you shoot, and if you unholster your loaded pistol and start waving it around (with other competitors and ROs in front of you) to see where you're going, you'll get a Match DQ and be sent home. Plan accordingly. Here's a video from the March match that shows the basics. The actual shooting portion of this match will be different than March, so don't let that get into your head!

Ok folks - Saturday is officially "sold out" now! There are still plenty of slots open for Sunday's match (shooting stages only - no run or obstacles). You might as well sign up now and book a room for Saturday night - you know you'll only want a hot shower and a few beers after Saturday (as opposed to a long drive home), and then a 2nd chance at those stages on Sunday after all the "man, I wish I would have..." talk over drinks after the match. Some pretty cool stats from registration: 91 total competitors 35 are active duty 5th Group 60% are signed up for Combat Class This last one blows my mind - we've had a handful of nuts run "heavy" at other matches for various trophies or bragging rights. Maybe 5 people at most. This match has FIFTY FOUR! I am REALLY looking forward to seeing all these maniacs work through this course! And I'd still encourage anyone interested to sign up for Saturday and get on the waiting list. We had several last minute cancellations in March, so it wouldn't surprise me if we had a few here too.