The United States Navy Chaplain Corps is the body of

military chaplain A military chaplain ministers to military personnel and, in most cases, their families and civilians working for the military. In some cases, they will also work with local civilians within a military area of operations. Although the term ''cha ...

s of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

who are commissioned naval officers. Their principal purpose is "to promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Department of the Navy", which includes the Navy and the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

. Additionally, the Chaplain Corps provides chaplains to the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

. The Chaplain Corps consists of clergy endorsed from ecclesiastical bodies providing assistance for all Navy, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, and Coast Guard personnel and their families. Navy chaplains come from a variety of religious backgrounds; chaplains are Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist. Chaplains have non-combatant status and do not participate directly in hostilities. In the U.S. they are prohibited from carrying weapons. Chaplains are assisted by Navy

enlisted personnel An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States ...

in the Religious Program Specialist (RP) rating, when available. Otherwise, a variety of personnel in the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard—as applicable—may support unit chaplains. RPs who are combatants also serve as the armed protection for chaplains in combat and other operational environments. Since RPs are enlisted, the Chaplain Corps, while protective of them, does not "own" the rating.

History

The history of the Chaplain Corps traces its beginnings to 28 November 1775 when the second article of Navy Regulations was adopted. It stated that "the Commanders of the ships of the thirteen United Colonies are to take care that divine services be performed twice a day on board and a sermon preached on Sundays unless bad weather or other extraordinary accidents prevent." Although chaplains were not specifically mentioned in this article, one can infer that Congress intended that an ordained clergyman be part of ship's company. United States Navy Chaplain Corps was established on 28 November 1775. The

Continental Navy The Continental Navy was the navy of the United Colonies and United States from 1775 to 1785. It was founded on October 13, 1775 by the Continental Congress to fight against British forces and their allies as part of the American Revolutionary ...

, the predecessor of the United States Navy, was approved by the

Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was the meetings of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, which established American independence ...

on 13 October 1775. It was administered by a Marine Committee of three members later expanded to seven members. The Navy Regulations adopted by the Marine Committee on 28 November 1775 mirrored those of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. The first mention of a chaplain in the ''Journals of the Continental Congress'' refers to his share in the distribution of prize money. On 6 January 1776, Congress passed a resolution detailing the prize share percentages and includes the distribution of a portion to the chaplain. On 15 November 1776, Congress fixed the base pay of the chaplain at $20 a month. The first chaplain known to have served in the Continental Navy was the Reverend Benjamin Balch, a

Congregational Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christianity, Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice Congregationalist polity, congregational ...

minister, whose father had served in a similar capacity in the Royal Navy. Benjamin Balch's son, William Balch, is the first chaplain known to have received a commission in the U.S. Navy after the department was established in 1798. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, at least 24 Chaplains died, with three being killed during the

Attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...

Qualifications

The Navy accepts clergy from

religious denominations A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name and tradition, among other activities. The term refers to the various Christian denominations (for example, non-Chalcedonian, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, ...

and

faith Faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. In the context of religion, faith is " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, faith has multiple definitions, inc ...

groups. Clergy must be endorsed by an approved endorsing agency. Once endorsed, clergy must meet requirements established by the Department of the Navy including age and physical fitness requirements. A chaplain's ecclesiastical endorsement can be withdrawn by the endorser at any time, after which the chaplain is no longer able to serve as a chaplain. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens at least 21 years old; meet certain medical and physical fitness standards; hold a bachelor's degree, with no less than 120 semester hours from a qualified educational institution; and hold a post-baccalaureate

graduate degree Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor ...

, which includes 72 semester hours of graduate-level coursework in theological or related studies. At least one-half of these hours must include topics in general religion, theology, religious philosophy, ethics, and/or the foundational writings from one's religious tradition. Accredited

distance education Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance; today, it usually involves online ...

graduate programs are acceptable. Chaplains then attend the Navy Chaplain School at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center (AFCC). The Navy has a "Chaplain Candidate Program Officer" (CCPO) Program for

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...

students interested in obtaining a commission before completing their graduate studies.

Naval Chaplaincy School and Center

The Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) is located at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. Its mission is to train, develop, and inspire chaplains and religious program specialists to pursue excellence as they strengthen the soul of the warfighter, the family, and the fleet. The NCSC trains Navy chaplains (1945, 4105, 4100) and religious program specialists (RP) to fulfill a critical role in helping the Department of the Navy achieve and maintain a ready force.

Mission

The mission of the Chaplain Corps is: * PROVIDE religious ministry and support to those of our own faith. * FACILITATE for all religious beliefs. * CARE for all Marine, Navy and Coast Guard personnel and their families. * ADVISE commanders to ensure the free exercise of religion.

Priorities

* Promote ethical and moral behavior throughout the Sea Services. * Ensure religious ministry enhances current readiness. * Think strategically for future readiness. * Employ Reserve religious ministry assets more effectively. * Realign assets to improve religious ministry for operational forces. * Improve recruitment and retention. * Enhance external and internal communications. * Leverage technology to support the mission.

Guiding principles

The guiding principles are: * We are faithful to our individual religious traditions and practices. * We respect the right of others to hold spiritual beliefs and religious practices different from our own. * We cooperate and collaborate in ministry. * We are committed to the highest standards of morality and personal integrity. * We are committed to professionalism in the performance of duty.

Vision

Mission-ready sailors, marines, and their families, demonstrating spiritual, moral and ethical maturity, supported by the innovative delivery of religious ministry and compassionate pastoral care.

Controversies

The United States Navy is required to be responsive to diverse requirements of sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Marines and all their family members. Since its inception over two centuries ago, the United States Navy Chaplain Corps has experienced several controversies in fulfilling such requirements as a Staff Corps community within the U.S. Navy. Some contemporary controversies include the filing of class-action lawsuits by "non-liturgical" active and former active-duty Protestant chaplains alleging religious discrimination. These chaplains argued that the Navy allegedly employed a quota system that caused "non-liturgical" Protestant chaplains to be underrepresented through the current career promotion established by the Department of the Navy. However, in April 2007, a U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., rejected one of these challenges to the Navy's chaplain-selection criteria. The court held that the Navy had abandoned the thirds policy and said that its current criteria were constitutional because the Navy has broad discretion to determine how to accommodate the religious needs of its service members. This decision was affirmed in 2008 by the

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (in case citations, D.C. Cir.) is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals. It has the smallest geographical jurisdiction of any of the U.S. courts of appeals, ...

. In June 2009, the Navy's Inspector General found that the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, RDML Alan Baker, took actions which "reprised against" his former Executive Assistant during a promotion board in 2008 and was subsequently not recommended for his second star and selection to Chief of Chaplains by the CNO. This determination found that Adm Baker improperly influenced a Captain promotion board in a negative manner. Chaplain Baker retired in September 2009. The current (27th) Chief of Chaplains for the Navy is RADM Brent W. Scott. George Pucciarelli

Chaplain and Religious Program Specialist (RP) Insignia

Leadership

* Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy * Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps * Chaplain of the Coast Guard USS-SOUTH-DAKOTA-2

Federal Service Academy Chapels

Naval Academy Chapel The United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, is one of nine designated chapel spaces on the grounds of the United States Navy's service academy. Protestant and Catholic services are held there. The Brigade Chapel is a focal po ...

* Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center and Jewish Chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy. * The Coast Guard Memorial Chapel al the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is attended by the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, the current Catholic chaplain is

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

William Appel * The Mariner's Memorial Chapel at the

United States Merchant Marine Academy The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA or Kings Point) is a United States service academies, United States service academy in Kings Point, New York. It trains its midshipman, midshipmen (as students at the academy are called) to serv ...

has been attended by the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps since 1959.

Prayers

* '' Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn)'' (including special verses for Antarctic and Arctic service, divers and submariners, Naval aviation, Naval nurses, Seabees, SEALs, submariners, U.S. armed forces, wounded in combat, and for those deployed) * Midshipman Prayer * Coast Guard prayers * Marine Prayer * Navy Hospital Corpsman Prayer

Notable chaplains

* Barry C. Black – Chaplain for 27 years and 22nd Chief of Chaplains of the Navy. * Vincent R. Capodanno – Chaplain during Vietnam War. Third chaplain and second Navy chaplain to be awarded the Medal of Honor. USS ''Capodanno'' was named in his honor. Cause for canonization to sainthood is ongoing. * John P. Chidwick – Chaplain on USS ''Maine''. * Frederic P. Gehring – Chaplain during World War II. First Navy chaplain awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

for conspicuous gallantry. * John F. Laboon Jr. – Chaplain during Vietnam War. Awarded the Legion of Merit. USS ''Laboon'' was named in his honor. * Adam Marshall – First Catholic chaplain in the Navy. * Joseph T. O'Callahan – Chaplain during World War II. Awarded the Medal of Honor. USS ''O'Callahan'' was named in his honor. * John Joseph O'Connor – Chaplain during the Korean War and 14th Chief of Chaplains of the Navy. Later Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York and Cardinal. * George S. Rentz – Chaplain during World War I and World War II. Only Navy chaplain to be awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

during World War II. USS ''Rentz'' was named in his honor. * Aloysius H. Schmitt – First chaplain to die in World War II; chaplain on USS ''Oklahoma'' during the

attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...

. USS ''Schmitt'' was named in his honor. * William Nathaniel Thomas – 7th Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Navy 1945-1949. "One of the most distinguished Chaplains ever to serve in the U.S. Navy." He wrote the Prayer of the Midshipman and the Dedication in Memorial Hall at the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. List of naval academies See also

* Military academy {{Authority control Naval academies, Naval lists ...

.Martin, Lawrence H. CHC, Head, Chaplain's Corps History Branch, USN, ''William. N. Thomas: Navy Chaplain and Southern Gentleman'' p. 1-18.

Ships named for Navy chaplains

* USS ''Rentz'' (FFG-46) * USS ''Kirkpatrick'' (DE 318) * USS ''O'Callahan'' (FF-1051) * USS ''Capodanno'' (FF-1093) * USS ''Schmitt'' (DE-676) * USS ''Laboon'' (DDG-58)

References

External links

Chaplain Corps
(USN official website)
Official Blog of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps
(Navy Chief of Chaplains Office)
Official Facebook page of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps

ChaplainCare
(online Navy chaplain corps "Distance Support")

(Navy Recruiting Command official website)
Navy Chaplain School

Bluejacket.com (see also: The Bluejacket's Manual)
USNA Chaplain Center
official website
President Reagan reads first-hand account of Navy chaplains at 1983 Beirut barracks bombing: Text Version
/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Reagan_Speech_Beirut_Bombing.ogv Video Version (Navy Chaplain Arnold Resnicoff)
Armed Forces Chaplains Board
(AFCB). Instruction Number 5120.08 (20 August 2007). Department of Defense. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
Military Chaplains Association
(MCA) official website. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces
(NCMAF) official website. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation
official website

{{Authority control Administrative corps of the United States Navy * United States military chaplaincy Religion in the United States military Articles containing video clips