Week Two

Well, Sean survived the gas chamber this week. He said he could feel it on his skin, like a bad sunburn, and it really burned his eyes, but overall he did really well. There was someone taking pictures of them as they all came out of the gas chamber. They have not posted facebook photos yet so I don't know if there are any of Sean.

They had their first PT test on Monday. Sean missed passing by one push-up. bummer. He was really hoping to pass. He passed sit-ups and the run.

This week they also did some medical/first aid training. Sean said he got 100% on his test for that. They also had a competition for maping/gps (I forget all the technical terms! sorry) and Sean was selected for the competing team. His team finished first and was the only team, Sean says, that didn't get told that they did horrible. He was proud of that. That is the first of the competitions his platoon has been able to win.

We were very happy to get a call from Sean this evening. I was not expecting one, because Sean said in his letter this week that last Sunday a few of the guys in his platoon were late for formation, so they got smoked and didn't expect to have phone privileges this week. Fortunately, the Drill Sargent who is in charge for the holiday weekend is not the same Drill Sargent in charge last week so they got their phones.

Apparently, most of the guys that are having trouble being disciplined and working together as a team are doing what they call Split Ops. This means that they are in between their Jr. and Sr. years of High School. They will do Basic Training, then go home for their Sr. year of High School, then come back and do their AIT next summer. They are really just kids!

There is a new group that has come this week and with it brought 3 or 4 elders to the elders quorum that Sean teaches. I think they are all from Utah.

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and this year it means more to me. It is more personal now I guess. I'm very proud of Sean and what he is doing. Sean does get the day off for the Holiday, but since he is not in the group that is graduating, it just means that he gets to sit around the barracks all day.

Sean says Thank You to all of you for your continued support, love, and prayers. We appreciate all of the help we get here at home, too.