Matt in TN

One year ago today, we lost Trevor Graves to suicide. "I never saw it coming" is the understatement of the century. Anyone who knew him has struggled with this over the last year, and some days are definitely harder than others. I can think of no better way we could have honored him than by this match last weekend. TENET GROUP LLC was his brainchild, and he'd be happy to see how far it has come. Run N Gun was also his passion, as he enjoyed bringing 5th Group guys into competitive shooting - and exposing competitive shooters and civilians to all the things 5th Group does. And spending time with friends in this atmosphere was right up his alley. The only way it could have been better was if he were there himself. I'm honored to share that we raised $10,000 with this one match alone for the Trevor Graves Fund, which is held in trust by the Special Forces Charitable Trust. Hopefully it will do the family and their mission some good. Thank you so much for helping to make this happen.

Scores are up at: https://practiscore.com/results/html/4bbc747c-5818-4e04-a308-193d08c3f0fa

I'm pleased to announce ZeroTech Optics has signed on as a sponsor. Check them out at: https://zerotechoptics.com/

I'm happy to share THRiL USA is on board as a sponsor and will have a representative onsite with some goodies. Check them out at: https://thril.com/

I'm pleased to announce DTV Tactical Innovations is sponsoring, sending three runners, and hosting a machinegun shoot Saturday starting at 1:30pm onsite! Check them out at: https://www.dtvtacticalinnovations.com/

I'm happy to share Premier Body Armor has signed on as a sponsor and will have a rep onsite as well as a few armor panels on the prize table. Check them out at: https://premierbodyarmor.com/

I am pleased to announce Cloud Defensive is sponsoring the match and I believe bringing a vendor table with goodies to show off. Check them out at https://www.clouddefensive.com/

I am thrilled (and again, not surprised) to share that Spike's Tactical is returning as a sponsor. Check them out at https://www.spikestactical.com/

Email just went out to all competitors (including staff) with the basic details and run order for Saturday night. We've had some staff with Yahoo email addresses not get emails this year, and historically Gmail has been bad to quarantine mass emails from us. Message me if you didn't get an email but think you should have.

I am thankful and not surprised at all to welcome Pete Jones with Alan's Arsenal LLC back as a sponsor. Pete has supported our matches since the very beginning, so please look to him first anytime you might need gun parts and accessories: https://alansarsenal.3dcartstores.com/

I am proud to announce Noveske Rifleworks is not only sponsoring the event (talking full rifle builds for the prize table), but sending two runners to compete alongside us! Check them out at https://noveske.com/

Jay wants to have a "Gear Swap" Table at start/finish. Bring any DECENT (don't bring junk!) Run N Gun gear you've outgrown that you're willing to donate to help newer shooters and runners get started. And feel free to TAKE whatever gear is on the table you could you yourself put to use, and make a donation to the Trevor Graves Fund in exchange. There will be no prices - give whatever you'd like to give. But put that gear TO USE. Do NOT take any gear to re-sell. And spread the love - be sure everyone gets a chance at the gear instead of one or two people just taking it all.

Minimum hit count is as follows: 61 rifle 47 pistol There will be SEVERAL places where having more ammo than that may benefit you, depending on how you choose to shoot different situations. And conditions will be tough, making you very likely to miss. I'm bringing double that count, and highly suggest you bring at least that too.

I visited the new range this weekend, and HOLY CHIT Jay and his guys have done a TON of work and have some very cool things in store for you. He wanted MOAR for this match, and he's got it. We ran the course Saturday night, and it's by far the most difficult night course I've ever done just due to the terrain and the conditions. As usual, our Garmins disagreed on the numbers - but expect somewhere between 4 - 5 miles with LOTS of elevation change. We will NOT be going down into the cave (this time!), but you may wish for the cool goodness of that cave by the time you're done. He's nailing down final details, but there's a very good possibility of flamethrowers, machineguns, hidden targets, several caches to find and exploit along the way for later advantage, mental puzzles and observational tests, historical references, and so much more I can't even put it all into words. Live competitor tracking and display at the start/finish line, coffee and snack trucks, bonfires, and more are also in play to keep you occupied while not running. I'm doing everything I can to help make sure things run smoothly and efficiently, but in all honesty we're so far outside of any "norms" I have historical data for I'm guessing at best. Please be patient if we have glitches this first match and things run long. As I mentioned before - there's a very good chance we'll be doing the awards ceremony after the sun comes up Sunday morning. I can't wait for everyone to see what he's put together! Ignore the duration below as we were stopping and talking/testing/looking at all the shooting stages along the way, but this is the distance and elevation I got with Guru Maps. Be ready - or if you won't be ready, be warned.

I finally got a night match video to work halfway decently! Check it out to see what you missed this weekend and what you can look forward to next time if you come join us:

2024 match dates at Dead Zero Shooting Park in Spencer, TN are set! 5 stages with rifle out to 500 yds, super newby-friendly, and we have an ever-growing 2-Gun division for those of you who hate shotgun. All for the bargain basement price of $30/match. Come on out and play! 2/17/2024 - Saturday Night Match 3/17/2024 4/21/2024 5/19/2024 6/16/2024 7/21/2024 8/18/2024 9/15/2024 10/19/2024 - Saturday Night Match 11/17/2024 Follow the Dead Zero 3Gun Facebook Group at [URL="https://www.facebook.com/groups/DeadZero3Gun"]https://www.facebook.com/groups/DeadZero3Gun[/URL] for all the details! [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/rEaSFkN.jpg[/IMG]

Just FYI - since this is a new match at a new range, we will be running with completely empty weapons this time (instead of the loaded handgun way we do it at Legion matches). You will be asked to show both weapons are clear before and after shooting each stage, and be allowed to load and make ready while on the run clock before starting the shooting stage timer. Finding a loaded weapon anywhere on the course other than after being given the "load and make ready" command will result in a match DQ. I think I've updated all the relevant info about this - please let me know if I've missed anything anywhere. Thanks!

Don't forget - registration opens tonight at 7pm Central time. Be at your computer clicking "refresh" right at 7 if you want to be sure to get in! https://practiscore.com/tenet-midnight-madness.../register

Remember Stage 1 from the Legion match this year? The one several people called "the best stage they'd ever shot, in ANY kind of competition"? Jay Roberts designed that ONE stage in that match - and he's designing EVERY stage in this match. I'm not saying every stage will have explosions, real live Green Beret teammates, shooting from a moving vehicle, various points of cover, and enemy infiltrating through the woods. I'm just saying you will not want to miss this match! Registration opens this Tuesday January 23rd at 7:00pm Central. Be sure to be sitting at your computer hitting the refresh key if you want to get in! https://practiscore.com/tenet-midnight-madness-night-run-n-gun-2024/register

There will be 2 (possibly 3) locations where competitors must utilize a climbing rope (knotted rope to climb or descend 10-12 feet). Don't forget - registration opens next Tuesday, January 23rd at 7:00pm Central Time. Be there or risk missing out!

Here's two of our Special Friends doing some course recon with the VK Integrated Systems ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit or Android Team Awareness Kit, depending on its use details) package. A few select competitors will be outfitted with a special rifle stock that will not only transmit their location data live so all the other competitors can watch their progress back at the start line, but report shot/engagement data as well. VKSYS has a big reveal at the SHOT Show coming up with this system - be sure to check them out if you're going! https://vkintsys.com/

Registration will open at 7:00pm Central Time on Tuesday, January 23rd at the below link. As we do with the Legion day match, payment will be collected on match day (cash only) to avoid taxes and simplify the charitable donation to the Trevor Graves Fund. This is a new match, so we have no idea how this will go - but if it's similar to Legion match registrations it will sell out in less than one minute. Be at your computer on time if you want to get in! If you get registered but have to cancel, PLEASE withdraw through Practiscore as soon as you know this - DON'T BE THAT GUY who just doesn't show up, takes someone else's slot, and reduces the amount we can raise for the fund. https://practiscore.com/tenet-midnight-madness-night-run-n-gun-2024/register

Be warned: Jay wants this night match to be MOAR. To fit all this in and allow as many competitors as possible, this will be a very long night. Expect to have the award ceremony after sunrise. If things go badly and we have unforeseen backlogs, the last runners who have suffered the most MIGHT get the advantage of finishing their match as the sun starts to come up. Thankfully we have a full staff of Green Berets who are used to staying up all night, and will give you no pity as you struggle. Pace yourself, plan accordingly, and... Just. Don't. Quit.

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): 4 miles of wilderness trails, carrying all your gear, stopping to shoot 6 stages (rifle/pistol) along the way. At night. Put on by the Green Berets that brought you the Legion Memorial Run N Gun, so expect that flavor. $200 match fee, with all the match proceeds going to the Trevor Graves Memorial Fund, held under the Special Forces Charitable Trust (https://www.specialforcescharitabletrust.org/). Click "interested" or "going" on the Facebook event page to see all the chatter and details going forward: https://www.facebook.com/events/726579629371579 All the details below. Intro: The 2024 TENET Midnight Madness Run N Gun is a centerfire biathlon – competitors will complete a 4 mile (ish) wilderness trail run combined with a shooting competition. At night. In the dark! 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. For the most part, if you want to carry it for 4 miles, be our guest. There are two equipment divisions: NVG, in which only IR or passive aiming will allowed to both shoot and navigate the course (penalties will be assessed for any light ND's), and White Light, in which any lights you wish (both weaponlights and navigation lights) will be allowed. For both divisions, a separate light other than your weaponlights MUST be used for navigation. Shooters are expected to have all their firearms sighted in and all their gear ready to go on the evening 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 early and late), or to partners who wish to run together. Due to issues with back-ups and large groups in the past, only two runners can start 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, and some form of stopwatch. Rifle targets must be engaged with rifle rounds (no larger than 30-06), and pistol targets must be engaged with pistol rounds. Competitors must carry one rifle and one pistol. 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. Long guns 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 if in a secure holster. However, loaded handguns must remain in that 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. Shooters will be disqualified (DQ’d) and not allowed to finish the course for the following violations: having a loaded rifle anywhere EXCEPT on a shooting stage after the “beep”, dropping a loaded pistol, pointing a loaded weapon at someone, or having a Negligent Discharge (ND). It is solely the judgement of my Staff that I trust if these should occur, and if you argue with an RO you will lose. Procedures: When a shooter approaches a station, he will be required to show the RO an empty mag well and empty chamber on his long gun(s). If another shooter is currently on the stage when he arrives, the one who just arrived will be instructed by the 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 an 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, 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 their iPad. You may want to carry a pen and notepad to keep track of your score in there is a mix-up with the scoring. Every shooter must show the RO an empty mag well and chamber on his rifle before leaving each stage. The 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 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 may be down a 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: Cedar Creek Precision is just outside of Hopkinsville, KY. Primitive camping will be allowed onsite for $10/night, and there is an RV camp park about 3 miles from the range. How to Sign Up: The registration fee for the Tenet Midnight Madness Run N Gun will be $200. Registration will be limited in number so all runners can finish the course before daylight. Registration will be handled through Practiscore, and we will collect full payment (CASH or CHECK ONLY – NO CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND THERE IS NO ATM ONSITE - the evening 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 is mandatory, and no walk-ons will be allowed on match day as space and time is limited. All proceeds from the match will go the Trevor Graves Memorial Fund, held under the Special Forces Charitable Trust (https://www.specialforcescharitabletrust.org/) Cancellation Policy: Please cancel your registration through Practiscore as soon as you know you can’t come. We always have several people on the waitlist, and if you don’t cancel early enough not only can they not get in, but the Special Forces Association won’t max out the contribution we can make to them. DON’T BE THAT GUY who just decides not to show up and doesn’t tell anyone. Directions: Coming soon Photos by Lisa Stennett

I am honored and humbled to report that Jay Roberts, Trevor Saunders, and I attended the 62nd Annual Reunion Dinner put on by SFA38 last Friday. We spoke for a few minutes about the match to a couple hundred active and retired Green Berets - spanning almost 7 decades of service. And then presented them a check in the amount of $38,232.18 for this year's net donation. This puts us at almost $120,000 in donations to SFA38 since we started this 7 years ago. What's crazy about this is that only about half of this year's donation came from match fees. The other half came purely from the generosity and hard work of sponsors and regular competitors who took it upon themselves to donate amazing prizes and organize raffles and auctions to help raise extra money. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for helping to make this happen. I wish I could share all of the amazing comments and appreciation we received at this dinner - but hopefully you'll be able to do it in person next year when many of these same Green Berets will be attending the match in person! Pictures courtesy of Jayson Rivas of JHR Photography