Overview

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States proscribes Congress from enacting any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. The Department of Defense (DoD) places a high value on the rights of service members to observe the tenets of their respective religions. Within the military, chaplains help to ensure that the “free-exercise” rights of religion are not abridged.

Military chaplains provide a wide spectrum of services to service members, their families, and authorized DoD civilians. Chaplains conduct worship services and administer sacraments; perform other religious ceremonies and services (such as marriages and funeral or memorial services); counsel service members and their families; conduct visitation with injured or ill service members; advise commanders on moral, ethical, and spiritual issues; develop religious education programs and youth activities; and conduct morale, spiritual, and social development seminars and retreats.

Military chaplains and their chaplain assistants or religious program specialists offer critical support to service members, their families, and authorized DoD civilians in the form of worship services and one-on-one assistance in times of need. The chaplains understand the environment of the military, the emotional strain service members and their families face throughout their service in the military, and the various programs, services, and resources available in the community to meet the spiritual and moral needs of service members, their families, and authorized DoD civilians.