Rifleman Round-up Concept of Operations

Formerly known as Memorial Marathon.

SITUATION:

Calling all Riflemen! America is a country established, defended, and renowned for its riflemen. It’s an honor to host this inaugural event on Memorial Day Weekend.

MISSION:

This operation will assess the competitors’ skills and fitness with rifles on foot or bicycle. Competitors will pick the division that best suits their skill level. This IS NOT a do as many laps as you can match!

Reserves Class will run 6 miles and shoot 6 stages. Regular Class will run 12 miles and shoot 12 stages. Elite Class will run 18 miles and shoot 24 stages. Resupplies for Regulars and Elites between loops on competitor time. Elites will be required to show proof of a top 10 match finish at any established RNG within the last year.

Bike and E-Bike Classes will be scored separately from each other and competitors on foot. Bike competitors will do 12 miles and 12 stages. E-Bike competitors will do 18 miles and 24 stages. All bikes must have petals for human powered conveyance.

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:

The loop will be just under 6 miles long and bi-directional, so paying attention to detail will save you from unnecessary trouble. You'll be skipping stages along the course based on the directions and instructions specific to your class. As usual in Mystery Ops, anything with a head (silhouettes and aliens) requires two hits, while anything round, square, diamond, or rectangle needs one hit.

Reserves Class will complete stages R1-R6 in one clockwise loop. These stages are:

S1 - "1917" - 5 close cardboard in the trench then 13 static steel in no man's land. 23 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S2 - "Hamburger Hill" - Hill 937 will feature three challenging to reach shooting positions with 3 hits each position. 9 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S3 - "Battle of Mogadishu" 8 static steel. Each will be numbered or simply designated as near to far 1 to 8. The RO will call out a number then neutralize that target with one hit. Do this 8 times until all targets are neutralized. 8 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S4 - "Code Talkers" - The stage brief will include a simple code and legend. That code will designate the most tactically beneficial way to shoot the stage based on position. Follow the instructions and neutralize 5 static steel. 5 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S5 - "Lord, make me fast and accurate" 5 static steel. Shooter will load one round and remove magazine. Engage the convoy front first then rear to front. After each shot, whether a hit or not, reload rifle by inserting mag, charging, and removing magazine. You must also change positions between each shot. 5 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S6 - "D-Day" Your carrier has landed as close as possible to the beach. Get out of it! Enter the water. Yes, you will get wet. Swim or use the rope to reach the shore. Retrieve rifle in place for safety reasons.  Neutralize 5 static steel with two hits each from a tank trap. Anything you do not want to get wet can be grounded with your rifle at the firing position. PFD's and throw bags will be available. Scantily clad lifeguards, questionable. Just about every RNG in the nation has had water hazards. Deal with it. The Greatest Generation did. 10 hits. PAR 180 Seconds

S1-S6 will end the Reserves Class competition. 60 hits total. Maximum range between 300-400 yards with generous target sizes. Round count slightly subject to change. 

The Regulars class will complete stages R7-R12 on their first counterclockwise loop. Then complete the above Reserves Class course of fire after adding a 5-pound sandbag to their loadout. Resupply between loops. 

S7 - "Crossroads Assault" - Charge the crossroads. Upon cresting the hill, neutralize one close static steel with one hit. Afterward, neutralize seven more static steel with one hit each. 8 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S8 - "The Devil of Ramadi" - From a secure and concealed sniper position, neutralize 5 targets with one hit each. 5 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S9 - "La Drang Valley" - 20 static steel, engage all targets as fast as possible based on target hit standards. 30 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S10 - "Captured" - 10 cardboard targets. You have crossed the thin red line and been surrounded by enemies. At a tactical disadvantage, but rifle still in hand, neutralize each target with two hits each. 20 hits. PAR 30 seconds/TBD. This stage will be scored by hit factor. All target hits will be alphas regardless of actual zone, equaling 5 points each. Mikes, or misses, will be negative 10 points each. Points will be divided by time. 

S11 - "Ho Chi Minh Trail" - Neutralize one static steel. Follow the trail, engaging 3 cardboard targets. At each cardboard, engage one more static steel as visible. 10 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S12 - "Iwo Jima" - 7 static steel from mid to long range. Neutralize steel with one hit each. Unload rifle and raise flag to vertical. 7 hits. PAR 180 seconds. 

S7-S12 is 80 hits total. Maximum range between 500 and 700 yards with slightly less generous target sizes. Round count slightly subject to change. 

Bikes will complete stages S1-RS or S7-S12 then complete the opposite after adding a 5-pound sandbag. Resupply and possibly dry feet between loops.

Elites and E-Bikes will first complete stages S1-S6 or S7-S12, then the opposite after adding a 5-pound sandbag. On the final loop, they will add another 5-pound sandbag and complete stages M1-M12, which will be modified versions of S1-S12 with slight reductions in round count and/or course of fire. Modifications are to be determined. Resupply and possibly dry feet between loops. Elites and E-Bikes frontload at each stage if wait time.

Resupplies between loops are on the clock!

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.