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AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
Jul 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM ET
@NokieHokie Miss me yet?
Every once in a while, you can come "slum" it with us non-subscribers....

31 Replies

8
85vthokie_cincy
This is a good thread - glad I found it today @AirborneHokie96
S
saret
Always glad to hear from you. Hope things are going well
for you and your daughter.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
She is doing well
She started week 5 out of the 6 yesterday. She seems to be doing very well with 1st time qualification on basic rifle marksmanship, land navigation and all of her other Army tasks. It's almost as if she had been "home schooled" for the past year.... We will see her after her 14 mile ruck march. She gets about 4 days to clean equipment, 2 days to spend with us and then starts classes the next day and Fall softball shortly after that. I feel pretty good that she will get some at-bats this Fall and hopefully this Spring.
astrohokiebob astrohokiebob
OMG you have to be bursting with pride!
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
I am happy. Will be ready for softball season to start...
E
EDGEMAN
You didn't take her to the range for rifle and pistol quals before this?
You must have taken her to the range on multiple visits. Her goal should be to qualify "expert" rifle and pistol.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
No.. no "range" time
To be honest, you don't need it firing M4s. It's an easy gun as long as you practice the same consistent mechanics and working on your set up, breathing and avoiding a "jerking" on the trigger pull. I told her to take as much time on the zero range and to not let them pull you out until she felt comfortable with her shot group. She actually had the same qual score as one of the male Rugby players who has fired hundreds of rounds downrange with an AR-15 and are family friends of ours. The dad was convinced his son (who will be an Infantry Ranger type for sure) would hit a lot more than my daughter but she is an athlete too who has been hitting softballs being thrown to her at 62-68mph. She has 3.5 years to work on getting more comfortable and learning how the M4 Qual range operates. They also have an indoor firing range/simulator on campus/post that is available to them just about anytime so she will get plenty of trigger time.
E
EDGEMAN
Are they using iron sights, and is it the same "battle sight" found on...
...the earlier AR rifles, or do they use an optic now? The reason I'm asking is I found that sight very difficult to use really accurately, especially the first time you use it. Although I did barely qualify "expert" in the Navy qualifications on my first try, I would have scored higher with basic "iron" sights. I would have preferred to have shot those sights before I did my rifle qual...just saying...lol
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
I shot M4 qualification as an "Expert" (>36 out of 40) with both iron and
optics (ACOG). Both had its challenges but in reality, shooting with optics was slightly better but sometimes made you slower on the long distance targets. I asked her if she used "iron sights" or "optics" during our 1 conversation on the phone. I could not get an answer because we speak too different languages at times with the new Army way. She talked about the front site post but then said something that made me think she was using optics.
E
EDGEMAN
My (little) problem is that I'd never shot those sights before.
Skinny center post, with two outwardly bent "wings." I wasn't sure how to line them up, and just "winged it." I felt a little lucky to shoot expert. And yes, we made fun of anyone who didn't shoot expert. Frankly if I had missed it, I would have tried to qualify again as soon as possible...lol
S
saret
A lot to be proud of, Dad!
N
NokieHokie
Umm, I do slum it here...
** Edited by NokieHokie at 7/29/2025, 10:37:02 AM
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
I never truly got to say "goodbye"
since we were both "banned" by Will for being too funny on the Subscriber's Board. Is it more "positive" these days? Think all that positivity will be the difference in 1 score games this year?
TekkNerd TekkNerd
You got banned? I really didn't see the subscriber board as negative....
People keep saying it, but I'm really not seeing it.
bourbonstreet bourbonstreet
him? bannnnnned? never... ; )
hell, at least he has scoops; he has 'balled... and he will at least try to call low-hands... ...there's... worse... 💯, b.street
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
Truth...although my playing days are long in the rearview mirror
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
Yes...
I never knew what it was other than being cheeky but never attacked anyone or said anything that was against the TOS. Some folks were complaining about "negative" people and I got pegged and pushed down that well so Will banned me for a week. If I am negative, then maybe those Board demographics aren't what I want to spend money supporting.
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saret
Well, if you're negative, then I can only imagine what I am to some
people on this board. I always found you factual, accurate, and you always brought receipts.
BG Hokie BG Hokie
Get a room
P
Pride_and_Joy
I received a week long ban and chose to
not renew my subscription. I was being a trollish but others who were calling me a cockroach and other names didn’t get banned. It is what it is. 🤷🏻‍♂️
TekkNerd TekkNerd
Well, I certainly wasn't offended.
I think some really don't like ANY negative comments about Pry no matter what. I also really don't understand how one can be optimistic about Pry given his tenure thus far. I think I used the words toxic positivity to describe the vibe over there the other day. Shouting down the facts don't make them untrue. I do hope he turns things around, but the past results don't indicate that is what is going to occur.
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saret
I think people are hopeful (as always), but are being very
cautious. Short of some major catastrophe or scandal, nothing will change. Pry, Whit et al will get at least one more year after this.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
I did have a really nice email exchange with the Hokie Club
I shared it with Chris Coleman offline because it represented a very nice shift. They asked for opinions and I gave them my opinion. To my surprise, they looked at me on LinkedIn and then emailed me to further engage on the issues that see not only at VT but in college athletics in general. It was a really nice thing. That being said, I will continue to financially support Wrestling at VT but I am not playing the college football/college basketball "buy a player" game. We just made a commitment to West Point to get a suite (10 year seating license) starting the 2026 season when the new expansion is completed at Michie Stadium (it's impressive) and as far as college football goes, I will be satisfied with whatever W/L record they get as long as I get to pull for true student-athletes who will be there 4 years. It also doesn't hurt that we know 3 of the families with kids that play football there and 1 will challenge for the starting QB next year for sure (great kid and great family).
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saret
Again, glad to hear from you. Some of our recent interactions parallel
yours. Got a similar questionnaire from the HC, responded as usual, expecting it to end there. I only answered the questions I was asked. Didn't expand into other areas. One of the questions was re: the HokieSports app, which I described as clunky and unusable. The young lady responded (I was surprised) and said she was contacting someone in the AthDept IT to contact me. From there, it disappeared into the ether. Oh well, I assume she meant well. Gave up FB tickets after 25-years. For some of the same reasons you did, and others. We'll probably get MBB and WBB season tickets again. That's just about my whole social life, so I can keep seeing @RJHokie , @BackInTheBurg, @VTChip and a few others. We went to our first SB game this past year. It was a hoot. And, VTChip doesn't exaggerate re: the SB players. What ambassadors they are. Enjoy Michie and WP. Very impressive, as you say. Went there a few times on business, in my old life. It is beautiful up there. Keep in touch as time permits.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
We are excited for the Michie season tickets for sure..
I am usually overseas between Thanksgiving and Christmas so I am rarely stateside for the Army/Navy game but will have to make plans to make at least one of those when she is a cadet there. She starts Fall softball soon (she actually has been hitting some during her "off" time from cadet basic training) and we will be up there watching her in September and October.
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saret
It's always coincidental that all those generals and admirals can
arrange a meeting near the Army-Navy game site. 😉 You should be able to arrange something.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
I am low on the food chain...
I am just a former "intel" consultant...
S
saret
Well, I won't take a cheap shot about the term
"military intelligence," but that being said, you've been around too long not to schedule some "necessary training" that is locale and time strategic. ** Edited by saret at 7/30/2025, 10:42:42 AM
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NokieHokie
They all believe Pry is da man and Jaret Ferguson is the savior of the 4th
quarter. The same cultist stuff as usual.
AirborneHokie96 AirborneHokie96 OP
Making the Subscriber's Board Great Again?
Yep...the secret and instant fix will be a new S&C coach with D1 athletes who have been trained and coached by paid professionals for probably 4-8 years now....
Seikoh_04 Seikoh_04
Yep I think it's a reach
My only caveat is that we can never underestimate the fragility of an athletes mind. So, really, Ferguson doesn't have to make them faster, stronger, and better conditioned as long as they think they are faster, stronger, and better conditioned. It's like the placebo effect. Bugs Bunny and the secret juice in Space Jam.