Memorial Marathon Concept of Operations

SITUATION:

In honor of those American Service Members who have paid the ultimate price for the liberties we enjoy in this country, this will be the longest course of fire in Mystery Ops history. Rifles only on Memorial Day Weekend.

MISSION:

This operation will assess the competitors’ skills and fitness with rifles on foot or bicycle. Reserves division will run or bike 6 miles and shoot 6 stages. Regular division will run or bike 12 miles and shoot 12 stages. Elite division will run or bike 18 miles and shoot 24 stages. Resupplies for Regulars and Elites between loops on competitor time. Bike and E-Bike classes will be scored separately from each other and competitors on foot.

DATE AND TIME:

May 23rd (Range Officers) & May 24th (Paid Competitors)

Mandatory safety brief at 0600 for your day of competition, individual course departure times TBD.

AOR:

Dos Hermanos Ranch, 13275 Glass Road, San Angelo, Texas 76901

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Mandatory safety briefs at 0600 each day of competition. Briefs will start promptly on the back porch of the house, be early. Roll call off roster, then safety instructions. Run orders will be adjusted for no shows. Arrive to start/stop table 10 minutes before your run time to fill out liability waivers and score card. Bring everything you will need on the course. Resupplies for Regulars and Elites each lap.

Once leaving HQ on your run, you are now on your scored run time that factors into overall score. Follow all high visibility flagging and signage. Flags are hung in line of sight of each other. If you are not in sight of a flagging, you are lost, stop and go back to your last flag to pick up the next. There are no shortcuts without flagging and you may wander into an impact area. Caution tape is hung for a reason, do not cross it. Do not go to stage canopies that your flagging does not lead to, that’s not your next stage. Red and white arrow signs will designate hard turns or spurs on the course.

Upon showing a clear rifle to RO's at each stage, you may start your wait time if there is a line to shoot. You are responsible for tracking your wait time. If there is nobody shooting when you arrive then you get no wait time. If you need extra time, it is on your time not RO’s time. Shooters will shoot in the order that they arrive at the stage. Once an RO asks for your wait time, you are back on scored time.

Once up to shoot, RO’s will give instructions and loading commands as the stage design dictates. No time will be given to admin gear or do stage recon. Upon the beep of the shot timer, shooters will perform the stage while strictly adhering to all firearms safety rules. Once finished with the stage, RO’s will record your shoot time on the card and send you on your way. Get your stuff and leave. Do not linger. What RO’s say goes, do not argue.

Repeat the above procedures from stage to stage and so on until back to HQ. Show a clear rifle one more time, then give the RO your score card. You are done, good job! Go recuperate and hang out until dinner and awards. Dinner will be BBQ and fixings. BYOB. Awards will be afterwards, with a prize table donated by sponsors.

Tentative Course Map

COURSE OF FIRE: TBD, Estimated round count: Stages 1-6, 50 rifle. Stages 7-12, 50 rifle.

The course will be a 6 mile loop with 12 stages.

Reserve division will run one loop and limited to 40 competitors. Starting counter clockwise on the course, they will shoot stages 1-6. Max target distance will be around 300 yards.

Regular division will run two loops and limited to 30 competitors. Starting clockwise on the course and shooting stages 7-12 first. Then, they will resupply, grab a 5 pound sandbag, run another loop counter clockwise, and shoot stages 1-6. Max target distance on stages 7-12 will be around 600 yards. Resupplies on competitor time.

Elite division will be reserved for those who can provide proof of a top 10 run score at any prior match, hosted by any organization. This division is not for beginners, and will be limited to around 20 competitors. Elites will be split, one half will start clockwise on the course, the other half counter clockwise, shooting the respective stages for that direction. Once they have completed one loop, they will resupply, grab a 5 pound sandbag, and do the other direction with respective stages. Once both loops are completed, they will resupply, grab another 5lb sandbag, and do a counter clockwise loop, shooting all 12 stages again in order encountered. Elites will front load at any stage where there is wait time. Resupplies on competitor time.

Bike Classes: To bring in new competitors and help those who don’t have the running endurance finish the course, Bicycle and E-Bikes will be allowed in their own class. Scored separate from competitors who are on foot. All bikes are required to have petals for human powered conveyance, no dirt bikes or mopeds of any kind. Helmets are required to be properly worn when operating any bike. Bikes are only allowed on the course and stages must be shot on foot. If bikes break, run out of battery, or just too difficult then they may be abandoned on the course. Bike or E-Bike classification will remain the same. Competitor may recover their bike after competition is completed. Do not recover your bike during competition as safety for competitors on the course is paramount.

LODGING:

Limited range officer lodging is available in the spectacular ranch lodge. First reserved for the setup crew, then first come first serve for what’s left. Camping is allowed at the designated camping area. Commercial lodging is close in San Angelo, only 17 miles away.

EQUIPMENT:

-Water, bring more than you need. Resupplies for Regulars and Reserves.

-Snacks. Resupplies for Regulars and Reserves.

-Pack or load bearing equipment. Consider a solution for carrying one or two 5 pound sandbags.

-Rifle (5.56 recommended) with mandatory sling. Ammo, no green tip steel core. Heavy for caliber match grade ammunition will help on distance stages.

-Proper clothing and footwear.

-Bicycle capable of traversing dirt roads with large rocks and hills.

SAFETY ISSUES:

-Heat, the month of May can be warm in West Texas.

-Pedestrian, cyclist, and motor vehicle deconfliction on course. RO’s need to go slow in vehicles. Everyone watch out for others as this course will be run in both directions.

-Unloaded rifles on course. Load only at RO command on shooting stages.

-Follow flagging and signage. Do not make your own course.

-See Rules for comprehensive match safety regulations.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

-Lodge is limited to Range Officer staff only.

-Use the provided porta-potties.

-No ground fires. Only above ground pits allowed. Properly dispose of extinguished ashes.

-See Rules for comprehensive administrative directions.