2023 Legion Memorial Run N Gun: Sept 9-10, Spencer, TN

[Matt in TN]

In another effort to raise funds for the Special Forces Association, Chpt 38 - we are auctioning off ONE of the SF slots for each day match to the general public.  Whether you're on the waitlist or not - you can buy your way into the match with a big enough donation.  This will be a blind auction.  Send your highest bid to legionrunngun@gmail.com and note whether you want the 5k slot or the 10k slot.

 

Full disclosure:  we'll give away any extra SF slots this weekend to those on the waitlist, in the order you signed up.  So you MIGHT get in anyway if you don't bid.  But you might not.  The only way to ensure a match slot at this point is to bid high!

 

We're cutting the bidding off at 11:59pm Central Time this Thursday, August 24th.  Jay and I will evaluate the bids and notify the winners this Friday.

 

Note the match fees are $150 for the 5k and $200 for the 10k.  Any bids lower than that will be ignored. 

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Matt in TN

[Matt in TN]

Round Count:  It's complicated

 

Anyone who has ever shot Legion before knows that I can't give a straight "you need this much ammo" answer to this question.  There are several targets you could shoot with either rifle or pistol, and depending on which weapon you use, you need a different number of hits to neutralize those targets.  And the intel/mental challenges this year are OFF THE CHAIN, thanks to 5SFG(A)'s Cognitive Performance Specialist - and how well you do on the intel challenges will determine how many targets you have to hit in some cases.

 

So I'll share the minimum hit count IF you shoot it like I plan to shoot it, and IF you successfully complete every single intel challenge:

 

5k:  38 rifle, 56 pistol

10k:  73 rifle, 61 pistol

 

Don't be fooled by the low numbers.  You will miss - a lot.  Bring extra.  You may chose to shoot pistol instead of rifle (or vice versa), and it takes more pistol hits to neutralize a target than rifle hits.  You may fail the intel challenges and have to use more ammo to compensate for that.  Maybe a LOT more ammo, depending on how badly you miss the intel.

 

Bring plenty. 

 

[Matt in TN]

Stage 5 (10k Only) honors SFC Frederic "Nic" Moses.

 

Over a five year span from 2007 to 2012, Nic completed three deployments to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, then a fourth deployment to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. He had just returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for a brief training cycle on March 6, 2012, after which he was scheduled to rejoin his team in the Baghlan Province of northern Afghanistan to continue fighting al Qaeda terrorists.

 

Nine days after returning to Fort Campbell for special training Nic was shot five times in his home by a former Army soldier, Benjamin Schweitzer, who was staying as a guest in the house. Moses and Schweitzer had both been assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group of the United States Army, but Schweitzer had reportedly just been demoted and later testified in court he had taken ketamine that night, and later woke up believing Moses was an intruder in the home. A jury found him guilty of reckless homicide, and he received a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

 

Things like these are HARD to talk about, but I think also important to talk about.  The struggle is very real, and sometimes bad things happen and we lose very good people.  I don't know the answer, but we owe these guys better.

 

In this stage:  struggle with finding concealed targets and telling the enemy apart from your allies. (18E – Communications SGT) 

 

[Matt in TN]

I am happy to report that HOIST has joined back in as a sponsor this year, and has provided an "IV Level Hydration" drink for every single competitor.  Not only is this GREAT stuff, but they support the military in big ways.

 

Would you rather receive your free Hoist during registration, so you can do with it what you please?  Or in a big iced down tub at the finish line as a reward for finishing the match (and to help your recovery!)?

 

How many matches have you seen the other drink makers support?  None.  Buy Hoist whenever you can to support those who support us - most Food Lion and Food City stores stock it now, and some WalMarts.  You can also buy online at:  https://drinkhoist.com/ 

 

[Matt in TN]

Just a reminder of some important things regarding our rules:

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, so don't get close and there won't be an issue.

Your score will be 50% how fast you run and 50% how fast you shoot. Each shooting score will be how fast you finish the stage with penalties added in for any targets not fully neutralized (or non-threats hit).

Any questions???

[Matt in TN]

Stage 4 (5k) AKA stage 7 (10k) honors WO1 Sean W. Mullen.

 

Warrant Officer Sean W. Mullen, 39, of Rehobeth Beach, Del., died June 2, 2013, in Ghur Ghuri, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device.

 

Mullen was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky., as an assistant detachment commander for a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA), or A-team. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Mullen’s sixth deployment in support of an overseas contingency operation.

 

In this stage:  Find and neutralize the HVT.   (18Z – Operations SGT) 

 

[Matt in TN]

I'm running out of days and still have too much info to post - so today you get a two-fer.  Here are some military acronyms you might want to familiarize yourself with - especially if you're running the 10k!

 

PZ = Pickup Zone

HLZ = Helicopter Landing Zone

SSE = Sensitive Site Exploitation

EXFIL = Exfiltration Route

 

.MIL guys - feel free to add your favorite acronyms below!

 

[Matt in TN]

I am thrilled to share that Aero Precision (https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/) is returning as a Stage Sponsor and providing around $8,000 worth of product for the prize table!  Be sure to buy all your Aero gear through Alan's Arsenal LLC (https://alansarsenal.3dcartstores.com/) to maximize the payback we give to these companies for helping!

 

[Matt in TN]

 

Stage 5 (5k) AKA stage 8 (10k) honors SSG Jason A. McDonald.

 

This is another terribly sad and unfortunate story - but is definitely worth remembering.  Things go wrong in war.  Terribly wrong sometimes.  Honor their memory.

 

McDonald excelled as a soldier. He trained at Fort Benning, taking on increasingly demanding duties. In his last deployment, he was a staff sergeant assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group from Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

 

The Department of Defense announced that McDonald was among five killed June 9, 2014 in a battle in a remote part of Afghanistan. They came under attack from Taliban forces and called in an airstrike to repel the attackers. The strike may have zeroed in on the wrong targets. The incident is still under investigation.

 

Also killed were Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California; Spc. Justin Helton, 25, of Beaver, Ohio; Cpl. Justin Clouse, 22, of Sprague, Washington; and Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron Toppen, 19, of Mokena, Illinois.

 

In this stage: build an improvised shooting position and eliminate the enemy at distance. (18B – Weapons SGT)

 

 

[Matt in TN]

Don't forget - ONLY CASH OR CHECK (made out to Special Forces Association, Chpt 38) will be accepted for payment on match day.  Credit cards won't work, and there is no ATM anywhere close to the range.  Bring lots of extra cash too for all the raffles and auctions that will be a part of this too!

 

You'll also want to be sure to bring eye and ear protection, and a watch to measure any wait times you might have.  A radio would be nice to have and will get you an intel nugget if you know how to use it, but won't be necessary to finish the match. 

 

[Matt in TN]

 

Alan's Arsenal will be raffling off this one-of-a-kind rifle at the match this year. Last year we were able to raise over $2,000 for the Special Forces Association, Chapter 38 raffling off our last build.

 

This rifle features an unreleased cerakote Patriotic Pattern on Aero Precision upper and lower receivers, making this gun truly one of a kind.  Also features a Ballistic Advantage fluted barrel, flame anodized Coda muzzle brake, Odin Works extended mag release, custom cerakote Magpul grip and stock, Aero Precision bolt carrier group and BREACH Charging Handle, and Timney Triggers Daniel Horner Signature AR trigger.  Will also come with Spikes Tactical sights (not pictured).

 

Tickets will be on sale for $20 a piece, or you can get 6 tickets for $100.  You do NOT have to be present to win, and you can even buy tickets online here:  https://alansarsenal.3dcartstores.com/search.asp?keyword=Raffle&search=Search&fbclid=IwAR2YZbgEvZYn_hPmUAu6JuKm897uDkDwt2IMta2Sjx3BOhbVrNJcgcyyHPA  Or of course you can buy tickets at the match.  Drawing will be held Sunday night.

 

Pics of the rifle below!

 

 

 

 

[Matt in TN]

The generosity keeps on coming!  Zechariah Nelson, from Forged in Fire (Season 8, Episode 42) and also a longtime Legion RNGer, is donating a BEAUTIFUL one of a kind damascus blade he made in the model of the Roman wooden rudis that 5th Group gives its soldiers when they retire (and that we give for some trophies at Legion RNG matches).

 

Raffle tickets will be $10 each, and you can only purchase them at the match from Zechariah (he'll have a booth set up).  The drawing will be Sunday night at the 10k awards ceremony.  You do not have to be present to win, and all the proceeds go to SFA38.

 

Video of blade:  https://i.imgur.com/6QEU2sI.mp4

 

 

 

[Matt in TN]

Those who were here last year understand this already, but for anyone new to Legion:  this is the heaviest weight I'll ever ask you to carry:

 

SFA has provided us a dog tag for every fallen soldier in 5th Group History. Pick one up before you go on your run, and carry that soldier with you on the course. Draw strength from his memory, and when you feel like quitting or slowing down think of how insignificant your struggles are compared to all he and his family went through. Honor him with your performance and perseverance.

 

Hang that dog tag in a place of honor after you cross the finish line, then go home and learn about that soldier who went with you on the course. Tell your family and friends about him, and remember him well.

 

Military gets first pick of the dog tags, but civilians CAN and SHOULD take part in this too.

 

And to double the weight you carry, for this year only every single competitor will also carry Trevor Graves’ dog tag on the course along with the other fallen soldier.  Trevor co-founded this match and we lost him this spring.  Take him with you on the course, honor his memory, and never forget him. 

 

[Matt in TN]

This year's official match video is finally up!  It's impossible to fit three days with this much intensity into a 5 minute promo video without it feeling rushed.  But hopefully it gets across the almost frantic feeling of being there!

Share it with your family and friends to give them just a taste of what you did last weekend.  Share it to give the sponsors some additional love and attention.  But most importantly, share it to help remember the eight men we honored this year.

 

Continue to say their names out loud and speak their stories any chance you get.

 

https://youtu.be/51hpvAA7Jp0?si=zlsFLIXBHCTS8-3G

[Matt in TN]

From Lisa (my dear wife, the photographer):

 

2023 Legion Memorial Run N Gun photos are up. This year, I was fortunate enough to have a helper on the course taking pictures with me.  My daughter joined me for the weekend, so there are more photos than usual to browse through.  If you find pictures of yourself, keep looking - there may be more in the album somewhere.

 

(Edit to add:  I, as well as my 'helper'/daughter, appreciate you all tolerating our presence on the course.   Over the years, these matches have proven to be a great outlet for practicing and learning different photography skill sets.  This year, my take-away lesson from shooting Legion would be to pay better attention to my shutter speed, which in turn drives my ISO setting,  in different conditions. Here's to grainy photos and lessons learned.)

 

I would recommend viewing and downloading from a laptop or desktop computer as using devices can be problematic.  Share and enjoy your photos with family and friends.  You must contact me and obtain permissions before any use of these photos for commercial or monetary purposes.

 

Friday pictures:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/lstennett/albums/72177720311191526

 

Saturday pictures:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/lstennett/albums/72177720311230563

 

Sunday pictures:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/lstennett/albums/72177720311247340

[Matt in TN]

And surely everyone has found them by now, but just in case - scores can be found here:

5k: https://practiscore.com/results/html/0f2a478c-6b92-4527-a76a-161da1a6d444

10k: https://practiscore.com/results/html/92ee34f7-2c42-4dc0-a406-744791059bef

Night Team Match: https://practiscore.com/results/html/8303f87a-4327-478c-a225-0e54184afb75

[Matt in TN]

Shared with permission from Trevor Saunders (co-founder of this match), because he says it better than I ever could:

 

2023 Legion Memorial Run N Gun is hard to sum up in a single post. I've tried sitting down and writing a post more than once, and stared at a blank screen.  Matt Stennett and Jay Roberts did an amazing job this year honoring 5th Group's losses, taking care of our Gold Star Families, and running 4 matches over the course of 3 days.

 

My biggest take away this year - witnessing the community that Trevor Graves started building around this match 7 years ago come together to grieve his loss, honor his memory, and care for each other.  Our Legion family spent a lot of time processing lessons learned with Trevor's loss and discussing in-depth what we can do to stop the bleeding from unseen wounds in the warrior community. Jamie Korenoski said it best when he encouraged everyone to be invasive in their friendships.  There is a lot of work to be done; but this match and the Legion family truly made last weekend a healing experience for me, and I don't think I'm the only one.

 

Some of the most impactful moments of the match were listening to Pete Jones and Shane Kerwin share their experiences and why they support the match.  It's not a business opportunity for them.  They don't walk away with profit.  They do it because they believe in the mission and it's an opportunity to tell the stories of their brothers.

 

I made new friends, caught up with old friends, and lost a few pounds walking up the hill on Stage 1 about 80 times on Sunday.  I can't thank the all-volunteer staff enough for coming back year after year to make this event happen.

Cumulatively, we crossed the $100,000 mark in funds raised for Special Forces Association, Chapter 38 over the last 7 years.  That's not from "mega donors"; that's from the community showing up, competing, and generously giving.  That's from individuals leveraging their talents and resources to raffle off paintings, guns, handmade swords.  It's humbling and inspiring at the same time.

 

Thank you Dead Zero Shooting Park for hosting us.  Even when M240b's show up unexpectedly, you've still been gracious and accommodating.

 

Spike's Tactical - you've been with us since the beginning and your consistent generosity is a testament to the character of your company.

 

Alan's Arsenal LLC - Thank you for your continued support!  Your contributions to the prize table are unreal.  And your shirts were outstanding this year!

 

I got to sample product from The Star Spangled Brewing Co. Uptown, another Green Beret owned business, and I can't wait until they break into the Kentucky market!

 

Personal Survival Solutions, Aero Precision, Tomahawk Strategic Solutions, VK Integrated Systems, @Nocturnality Night Vision, Innovative Targets, Samson Manufacturing, @Glock Store Nashville

 - Thank you all!

 

 

Trevor Saunders carried Trevor Graves' plate carrier in his ruck this year as tribute.  He says "The heaviest part of my ruck was Trevor's plate carrier. My small way of carrying him with me. Stay Classy. "

 

[Matt in TN]

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