People entering the Armed Forces for the first time go to the reception centers and then to basic training or recruit training centers. Often these two types of centers are in the same installation. At the latter begins the concentrated training that is intended to transform civilians into military-thinking, military-acting, and military-looking men and women.

This transitional stage tests the mettle of all who enter it. The long working hours, the rigorous physical exercise, and the stern discipline, coupled with the separation from home and the necessity to live in barracks, where there is no privacy, require many adjustments in living habits.

The Christian Science Chaplains, Ministers, and Representatives serving the needs of Christian Scientists in reception centers and basic training and recruit centers, recognize the importance of their work and are aware of the unusual opportunity they have to help. Their reports relate many healings of loneliness, of ill-adjustment to military service, of finding one's place in the Armed Forces, and of the overcoming of physical problems.

Christian Science Activities for the Armed Services is grateful to the Christian Science Armed Services committees in branch churches and societies that send this department of The Mother Church the names and military addresses of Christian Scientists in the Armed Forces. By forwarding this information as soon as men or women enter the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, they enable us to relay it to the Chaplains, Ministers, or Representatives at the centers where the individuals are sent for basic training or recruit training. Thus the Christian Scientists receive the services of our field workers at the very beginning of their military experience and at a time when these services are most needed.

Parents and relatives are encouraged to give the Armed Services committees of their branch churches and societies the names and military addresses of Christian Scientists who are members of their families and who are in or who are going into the Armed Forces. These committees will forward this information to us. When branch churches and societies do not have Armed Services committees, parents and relatives should send this information directly to this department.

Another way by which Christian Scientists are located when they go on active duty in the Armed Forces is through their personnel records. Armed Forces regulations require all servicemen and service-women to enter their religious preferences on their personnel records. Thus Christian Scientists should state "Christian Science," not "Protestant," as their specific denomination.

Those who identify themselves as Protestants rather than as Christian Scientists do themselves a disservice, because they make it difficult for our Chaplains, Ministers, and Representatives to learn of their presence, and so these field workers do not communicate with them and invite them to become affiliated with Armed Services Activities.

The Chaplains, Ministers, and Representatives at basic training and recruit training centers hold Christian Science Sunday services. Some of them hold midweek testimony meetings also. One Minister at a Naval Training Center holds two midweek meetings, one for the recruits and one for the rest of the naval personnel at the installation.

When our Chaplains serve in basic and recruit training centers, they usually explain about Armed Services Activities to incoming Christian Scientists shortly after their arrival. These explanations are given to them individually or in groups. Our Ministers and Representatives in these centers look up Christian Scientists, as soon as they learn of their presence, and make similar explanations.

The Chaplains, Ministers, and Representatives give Service Edition sets of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy to basic trainees and recruits who desire them and will use them. They also have available for distribution free Christian Science literature and the Christian Science identification tag. The latter has a picture of The Mother Church on the front, and the words "Christian Scientist" on the back. This tag is usually worn with the identification tags of the Armed Forces.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.—Isaiah 54:17.