OPERATION MUCKROMPER: OCTOBER 2009

2ND ANNUAL ZOMBIE SHOOT

It was wet and muddy and CNN was there to film us. We had a good turn out, and several new qualifiers. Thumper had sent along some Zombie Qualification Targets, and a poster-sized "Lost Zombie Child" to hide in the woods.

There was a hastily assembled patrol team, made up of mostly new, or almost new people. This was something to keep our eye on....

The troops moved out smartly through the mud. We prefer weapons carried "at the ready" instead of slung or shouldered, though. Still, it's a timed walk, and not a tactical one, so we let this slide. This time.

Left: Quick target acquisition. Right: Megs killed, er, RE-killed some Zombies.

There was some qualifying shooting, some quick fire target shooting, and some Zombie Qualification Target shooting, all done safely and in good fun. How can it be anything but fun when you shoot zombie targets?

Seriously, this is based roughly on Fred's AQT targets, and it involves quickly engaging targets from multiple shooting positions. Very powerful scopes tend to NOT work well at this close range, enabling the shooter to accurately shoot multiple wrong targets quickly. Here is where low magnification or (gasp!!!) iron sights prove to be better: close and quick.

Yep.

There was further instruction on land navigation and patrolling. Newer groups went out on what is called "the simple route" and advanced teams set out on one of two northern routes. Each group was trailed by an evaluator. I got to trail the newer team along the simple route. I was impressed.

The new team moved well, practiced noise discipline, and very impressively, maintained rear security throughout, at all times. Not once did they pick up and leave their rear security element behind, and they communicated very effectively using improvised hand and arm signals. There was an issue with face and hand camouflage, but some of these guys did not even imagine being thrown in to a patrol, so we can let this slide. This time.

The reports from the other patrols also indicated effective movement and communication. They also were on the lookout for a lost zombie child out in the woods. The best way to avoid widespread zombie contagion is to stop it at zombie zero. Actually, this was a way to check how alert the patrol is, to see if they spot the zombie poster. Whether they did or not, we will never tell....

A hastily assembled (mostly) civilian militia squad.

CNN's Jim Acosta interviews militia members.

Also, because we had advanced warning that our support team would not make it, Madcat made some BBQ pulled pork sandwiches for everyone. Everyone enjoyed it, including the young militia guys who heated up the pan in the fire so they could scrape the bottom. The CNN crew also enjoyed the BBQ.

D-day and Madcat manning the chow line; big pan of BBQ pulled pork. Yum.

It was a great training day, part of one of our most successful years ever. We hope to continue growing and improving.

-Weapon M

View more photos from our October training here.