A delayed return

1-378th Infantry Regiment 

Panthers

Exhibit at the world class National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. 

Absolutely loved that museum

Finally getting a chance to get back on here and reconnect with the rest of the family and update Y'ALL in mass to what i'm up to and what's happening. I'm starting my 3rd week of AIT (advanced Individual training) here in Fort Sill, Oaklahoma. Now that I'm in training and working towards something I'm much happier than that first week of just detail without being classed yet. Working towards nothing was so depressing. There are guys here that have been here since January for one reason or another but typically because of their own dumb decisions, who have

Me packing up to leave Benning

been on straight detail week after week for months. Don't know how they do it. Play alot of video games I guess. I've had my first two of seven tests already and I'm fixing to have my third this Wednesday. So far I've gotten 100% and 96.25% so I'm in good shape for my gpa here and for graduating on time. The material has been engaging and it's really interesting to be learning what it takes to throw a 100lbs projectile 25miles and put it within a 10meter radius of a target. Finally math can be fun and interesting! I'm happy to be out of the 105+ temp Ive been experiencing since I left sweet home Utah. Being a Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data Systems Specialist means that I'm the brains of the field artillery and do all the calculations that gets relayed to the gunline and furthermore means that I sit at a plotting table in A/C the whole time. I'm hoping to be done here soon but I've been enjoying my experience too. The only bad part is being away from the family and missing out on all the fun that you guys get to have back home.
                                                                                                                                                        

Stone

All the toys I got to play with in basic

Now that I'm finally out of basic training I actually miss it and all the things that we got to do. It was good in many aspects spiritually being not the least of them. Being put into such a situation as basic training really brings an individual in touch with what they really believe. It was good to see so many guys become religious and pickup bibles and start reading them for the first time in their lives. For me it was a great opportunity to get close to the lord and improve my prayers and opportunities for service. The lord has taken good care of me as well providing me with good battle buddies like Jared Stone from Tooele. What were the chances that the I'd get put together with another mormon guy as my battle buddy. Even the drill Sgt's and other soldiers marveled at those odds and suspected some sort of divine intervention. We were able to help keep each other sane and make the whole experience more enjoyable. It was good knowing  there was a worthy priesthood holder right by my side the whole time. The lord is aware of me and has made it so that I could grow where ever I am planted. Even now I have two good battle buddies, who although aren't religious men, respect my beliefs greatly and take good care of me. Not all things can always be a bed of roses though, as I was wisely told by drill Sgt's in the beginning there are going to be good days and bad days in the military. That statement has been as true here as it would have been in the civilian world. Only problem here is that you can't just get up and walk away from this choice. It tends to be a little permanent and the man doesn't like you walking out on him once you've made a commitment. Whether I've made a smart decision or necessarily the right one...remains to be seen I guess. I still consider that question everyday, wondering if what i'm doing is the right thing for my life, or was I just out of good ideas when I made this choice? Time will tell as it always does, but I sure wish I knew all the awnsers. As I stand now I'm content with my decision and waiting to see what the military holds for me once I'm no longer an IET(Initial Entry Training) student and I get to be treated a little more on par with other human beings. I love all of you guys very much and hope life is treating you as well as it has treated me. Now that I'm off lockdown I'll be able to stay in better communication with all of you back home and abroad. My love and best wishes.

PFC Sean Douglas Sullivan

 
                                                    

Me in the National Infantry Museum on family day, they have alot of great volunteers and war vets that come out to put on displays in the museum.