As a member of the Air National Guard, I completed my initial training a year ago. At that time I was on active duty for four months. More than any single experience, my six weeks of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, brought to life the power and importance of Article VIII, Section 6, "Alertness to Duty," of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy. It reads: "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned."
Living in close confinement with dozens of young trainees made it necessary to protect myself against sometimes rampant aggressive suggestions. Many of the trainees succumbed to severe colds, sore feet, fatigue, loneliness, and homesickness. I am grateful to say that due to my alertness to man's exemption from such claims, as taught to us in Christian Science, I was largely spared these moments of discomfort. In regard to the mental and physical discipline the military was attempting to instill in its trainees, I rejoiced that these were qualities I had already learned through a practical study and application of the teachings of Christian Science.
I began to see more fully my duty to God. In what at first seemed endless moments and hours of waiting I began to employ the time meaningfully by turning to God in earnest prayer to learn more of man's purpose and right place. The duty to our Leader, too, became more evident as I sat down daily to study the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly. More times than I could number, I was interrupted by young, college-age men who were hungry for what the Christ Science had to offer. I was able to share the textbook, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, The Christian Science Monitor, and many pamphlets from The Christian Science Publishing Society, more than I had ever found opportunity to do before. Several of these newfound friends accompanied me for their first time to the Christian Science Sunday service, provided on base through the sponsorship of Christian Science Activities for Armed Services Personnel.
