It is hard to believe it all began with a summer camp and a phone call.
Almost three years ago, I had a call from a mother about rifle classes for her two young daughters, Barbara “Birdie” Forgues and younger sister Phoebe. They had been introduced to shooting at the summer camp they attended in Vermont and were very good. Their mom, Tara, had attended the same camp and rifle training. Funny how life events can come full circle. She said the girls enjoyed it so much they wanted to do more.
This led Tara on a mission to find out if there were any such shooting classes offered to juniors. To her surprise (and many others), there are several programs offered on rifle instruction and safety by rifle clubs throughout New England, even in Massachusetts. We have actually produced many juniors through our programs who have gone on to the Olympics, NCAA rifle teams and military academies.
The difference in rifle programs is that many do not offer advanced classes for beginners to graduate to as their skills improve. Advanced programs take participants to higher levels where they compete and travel for competitions and awards. Advanced individuals are able to take their skills to the level of a collegiate shooting team, military academy or service team. These programs can lead to a lifetime of love for the shooting sports and a shared experience from generation to generation.
Luck was with us three years ago when Tara found an article about me by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). She soon called my number to learn more. This started a chain of events that would change a young lady and her family’s lives forever.
I am not sure they really knew what they were getting into at the start, but they were willing to try it all. Practice, practice and more practice, with suits that weigh slightly more than the sweatshirts they wore at camp, along with “fashionable” shoes and jackets that, at the time, may or may not have matched. Left and right, we threw more and more at the two of them, and they kept on going and excelling.
I think the divine moment came when it was time to travel to Camp Perry for the first time. I love to see the faces of the parents when I start to explain the process for travel. Driving takes about 11 hours at a good pace. Many of the parents (okay, maybe all of them) have not driven more than two hours in a day, so when you tell them 11-12, this can be the deciding moment if they stay or leave the program.
Even flying instead of driving can cause a slight moment of panic when you start to explain about gun cases, ammo, luggage weight, TSA, etc.
But with a true sign of a leader, Birdie just said, “Sure, we can do that!” I am not sure if, at the time, her sister and mom felt the same way. But, once you have done it, the attitude changes to, “Camp Perry – no problem! That’s easy.”
All my advanced juniors have learned how much they can do and accomplish if they just try and push themselves to achieve the levels they want, not only in shooting, but in all aspects of life.
We have been exceptionally lucky to have had so many come through our beginner and advanced programs and have excelled or are excelling in their life journeys. Now, Birdie is to join their ranks by accepting an early appointment to West Point for the fall 2024 semester, not only as a cadet, but also as a member of their International Rifle Team.
Her time with the Reading Rifle team is not over. We have several matches, including Regionals and Nationals, to compete in. So, be watching out for future news of the team’s accomplishments. We also have two other graduating seniors who are aiming high and will, for sure, grab onto that golden ring, just like Birdie.
We are always sad to see them go, but we are so lucky to have had a small part in steering them in the right direction for the career path they have chosen. We look forward to the amazing things they will accomplish.
If you know of a young person who has expectations of going further in rifle instruction and are not sure of what direction to point them in, feel free to contact me, Maureen Trickett, at [email protected], or contact the CMP. They will be happy to help you find information close to home.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
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