Limitations of a Military Chaplain

Chaplains kept the faith by holding on to the “be, know, do concept between the 1200s and the 1600s AD. Being a practitioner of faith meant applying the rites commanders and the papacy authorized as a mission requirement. Knowing meant priests were to have a thorough knowledge of the rites of penance, mass, final unction, and viaticum. [1] Doing simply meant conducting the

The United States Military Protects our Freedom: More men and women volunteers are need for the military.

Laying down one’s life for another, putting personal convenience aside for the safety and security of our country and our citizens, is the business of daily military service that is not just demonstrated during times of open conflict and battle. Service on mission teams in underserved areas of our country, where citizens are in need of basic human support and assistance, taught me that true service requires no individual glory. One of our greatest strengths as a nation continues to come from the indomitable spirit of our citizens. As a Christian, I believe in the sanctity of life therefore, as a soldier I will be mindful of the lives of those serving with me. As an officer, I understand that one day I may have to call soldiers into combat however, as a West Point graduate and a Christian I will never do so thoughtlessly. As the namesake of a patriotic and courageous soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in his service to our state and our country, I was raised with the sacred awareness that accompanies the call of duty. For all of the reasons herein, I am uniquely worthy to be a nominee from South

McPherson cites a British Army doctor who specialized in psychiatric casualties during World War II saying “Since History undoubtedly proves that sound religious faith is a strong component in high morale…it is clearly the duty of every officer, whatever his private beliefs, to be seen as a Christian, even if he can only be what I call an’ Army Christian” . This is what really peaked my interest in this chapter. Myself, being on the ROTC path to commission into the U.S. Army as an officer, I take that quote from the British Army doctor to heart, and I can see exactly what he means. Officers are often the ones that most soldiers look up to, especially in times of distress, confusion and fear. So when an officer has sound religious faith, and his soldiers witness it, the morale and faith in the troops increases dramatically.

Chaplain, you know what? All I've ever needed is the big open ocean and nothing else. No fairytales or special prayers have ever been of use to me and they never will be. This ocean is all I have. Besides, religion always just gets in the way."

I have recently read Mark Cress’ C-Change: How To Transform Any Business Through The 7 Simple Principles of Corporate Chaplaincy (Wake Forest, NC: Lamphier, 2005). This review will discuss and evaluate the seven principles – Christ, Call, Confidentiality, Compassion, Control, Consistency, and Conversion - and briefly discuss their relevance and importance and the way the author has presented and discussed each principle. In addition I will critique two things I disagree with, and in conclusion I will give a final assessment of the book including more personal opinion. Clear introduction that outlines your intentions

During their seminary time, future chaplains are trained in sermon preparations, church administration, and administering the ordinances of their faith group. However, they are rarely trained in addressing one of the most critical topics currently facing today’s military personnel. Specifically, this would be training in counseling troops who are experiencing suicidal ideations. Another possible place for members of the Army chaplain corps to receive training in addressing a potential suicidal person would be during their initial military instruction time at the United States Army Chaplain Center and School (USACHCS) which is located in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Currently, USACHCS does not have training for this on their course curriculum for either the Chaplain Basic Officer Leaders Course (CHBOLC), the Chaplains Captain Career Course (C4), or the Brigade Functional Course for

I am still unclear as how our discussion began, but none the less, a co-worker, Sally and I engaged in a conversation that focused on why her father, a military Chaplain was “passed up” for a recent promotion.

This paper begins by examines the Religious Accommodations currently addressed within the ranks of the United States Army. Jewish Orthodox Jews and Sikhs are chosen to illustrate the bounds being made to accommodate Soldiers in the armed forces nevertheless maintaining standards, structure and discipline. The paper concludes with the process administered to afford anyone desiring accommodation for grooming standards the opportunity to have their needs met.

It means simply that we are always going to take your needs seriously and we will do what we can within our limits to provide for you. This means there will be times when we have to refer you to someone else. Every chaplain knows they have limits to what they can and cannot do. When presented with an issue, we listen and then try to determine if we can help you or if there are other resources available that may be better suited to assist you. You may present a problem to a chaplain and he or she may recognize this is an issue better addressed by the Equal Opportunity Manager or maybe the complexity of the issues may need to be addressed at the Joint Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team. We are going to get you to the right resource in order to best meet your needs.

14 December 1993, the Army Chief of Chaplains requested that be an insignia created to Muslims chaplains’. The design was crescent and completed on 8 January 1993. The first Muslim was Chaplain (LTC) Abdul-Rasheed Mummad in 1994. The department of defense could not accept the Muslims Chaplin’s into the armed force until it was agreed upon. Military Chaplains are representative of faith group; that endorses the Chaplin’s ministry.

“Reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs or practices, unless doing so would cause more than a minimal burden on the operations of the employer 's business. This means an employer may be required to make reasonable adjustments to the work environment that will allow an employee to practice his

In navigating their wartime options, Friends of military age had to consider their identity as Quakers, as pacifists, as members of a local community of believers and of a national community of service. The United States' intense effort to raise a national army to fight the Great War forced many Friends to grapple with, likely for the first time in their young lives, what it meant to be a member of a pacifist organization. This challenged them to define their beliefs and evaluate their relationship to the religious community and the nation of which they were a part. However diverse their paths of service, these individuals are united by their drive to meaningfully contribute to institutions, communities, and ideals that they saw as larger than

work as a team other than on our owns. Second, it represents that we would

(Religious Freedom & the Military: An Ongoing History. (n.d.). Supervisors and commanders are often reluctant to raise concerns over the impact of religious practices in today’s workplace. The first amendment to the Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, guarantees freedom of religion, speech, the press, and assembly. The first amendment provides the following: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Supporting the right of free expression relates directly to the Air Force core values and the ability to maintain an effective team. It requires all military members to recognize that individuals within your workplace and the Air Force community hold diverse beliefs. Airmen are in an environment where their coworkers subscribe to many different viewpoints, groups, denominations, orders, affiliations, and persuasions. Within each of these varied expressions, all Air Force members are able to choose to practice their particular religion, or subscribe to no religious belief at all. Recognition and application of this right requires you to portray a great deal of respect, understanding, and support. “Religion is often understood as an institutional and organizational domain, confined and determined by creeds, theologies, and doctrines about man’s current and eternal destiny, his relationship with himself and others