One week of shooting fun....Great School that improved my shooting!!!

by MJ Woodland                                            to follow me on twitter click here

                                                                   to follow me on Facebook click here

This past week I attended training in Ellijay, GA at the 'Rogers Shooting School'. I was immediately taken aback by the beautiful country side setting. This was as indication this training would be great. The first objective was an informal in-processing and issue of any equipment needed for the training. Since this was the basic course, the 'Rogers Shooting School' staff insists you do not bring any equipment but instead use theirs.  

You begin with a .22 caliber pistol and graduate to the 9mm. The test that is given is not as easy as one would think with only half a second exposure times. Frustration did set in, but it has been instilled in me to never back from a challenge. On the second day even with the target being exposed for half a second yours truly hit the target two out of three times.

The instruction is taught mainly by the living legend himself Bill Rogers. However, the other instructors are all just as proficient. They include ex-military and law enforcement officers who have all attended the course can can therefore prove and teach the material. This combination makes this course as awesome as military training. Well, I do like to train especially when weapons are involved.

The third day of class proved to be even more fulfilling with everyone expressing satisfaction that their test scores were getting better daily. My target goal was 90, but I only achieved a 71 just missing graduating to the 9mm by nine shots. On this day I was shooting with my support hand (left hand since I am right handed) which was my only reason for not making my mark. On the second day shooting with my left hand was an easy task, but the third day my shooting seemed a bit more druken style. This was a letdown. The most important factor is that improvement was achieved across the board. Once again I set a personal goal of 90. With only two more days left in the course it seems as if there is no indication of improvement.

Day four proved to be the mental killer to me. This is probably because I am so competitive, and everyone around me is excelling to the next level except for me. The task today was to complete a morning test and then another test in the afternoon. Before each test we complete a series of drills. I find that my resiliency training is obviously not working for me this morning because my results were 'GARBAGE'. Beginning with the drills it was a hot and cold spell. Honestly my focus was not like was the day prior. Then the moment of truth, the morning test. There are nine stations for the test and in my mind the results were a 40 our of a possible 125. Remember you need to achieve 80 to more to the 9mm. When the results were called and my was called, I swear I heard a drum roll, and then a score of 65 was yelled. It wasn't a shock but I knew I could do better.

Now my focus is on me and the different ways to help me get my mojo back. The mindset drill is a visualization process that was taught to me when my assignment was Drill Sergeant. After lunch I began to fight the fatigue factor because I still needed to meet my goal of 90. The game plan was to max out the hits on the smaller scored stations, but again this harder than it sounds. So I took the test again and thought my performance would probably miss the 80 hits by one and I would be forced to test again. When my name was called, I again heard the drum rolls, but this time 86 was yelled out. This took a load of stress off of me.

One thing I did take notice of an the ride back to the lodge was that I was so mentally drained it was shocking. I was able to gain four hours of rest and then went on to some night training. The night training was an event that opened a lot of student's eyes. There were many discussions on the many variations of how to hold a flashlight while shooting, attachments for the handgun with flashlight, and the different drills. Shooting at night is like any other training in my perspective, and this shooting school takes full opportunity of the night for the student's to put some new knowledge in their kit bags.

My overall experience at the Bill Rogers Shooting School was great, but definitely a very humbling experience. I went into the school with the knowledge that I can shoot, but that changed very quickly when speed became a factor. The instructors were not trying to impress us with theatrics but they were more like the instructors in the military "getting the point across". This is a shooting school that I will recommend to anyone who is serious about shooting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We finally have our website M-WTactical.com up and running. Stop by and check it out. Currently we are offering classes on the Handgun and Rifle (AR Platform), and will be selling apparel in the near future. visit www.M-WTactical.com and tell us what you think by leaving a comment on our Facebook page or on the contact us page on the website.

Interested in the Enlisted Nine fighting apparel you see me shooting in, please visit www.enlistednine.com and tell them MJ Woodland sent you....

For those wishing to donate to my continued participation in competition shooting please visit www.gofundme.com/mjwoodland17

Look for me to be visiting the following IDPA and USPSA matches:

East Alabama Gun Glub (USPSA match)
18 MAY 2014
Phenix City, AL

Watauga Gun Club (IDPA match)
 9 AUG 2014
Boone, NC

Would you like for me to come compete at your local IDPA or USPSA match, contact me at mwoodlandtactical@gmail.com