Overview

Background

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibits the enactment of any law "respecting an establishment of religion" or "prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Within the military, chaplains help to ensure that the "free-exercise" rights of religion are not abridged. Chaplains accomplish this by providing opportunities for religious support (through worship services, religious classes, prayers, etc.) for individuals from all religious backgrounds to ensure the most comprehensive religious support opportunities are available to service members, their families, and authorized Department of Defense (DoD) civilians.

Key Points

Depending on the Service, chaplains lead a Unit Ministry Team (Army), Religious Ministry Team (Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard), or Religious Support Team (Air Force). These teams consist of a minimum of one chaplain and one chaplain assistant or religious program specialist, depending on branch of Service. The main duties of chaplains, with support from chaplain assistants or religious program specialists, include the following:

• Conduct worship and administer sacraments. Chaplains are responsible for ensuring that service members have the opportunity to worship in the manner in which they choose. This means that chaplains conduct worship services and administer sacraments in the manner in which they are accustomed, and that they also seek out accommodations for persons of other faiths.
• Perform other religious ceremonies and services. Chaplains also perform religious rites and ceremonies such as marriages and funeral or memorial services. The chaplain is also expected to have expertise in premarital counseling and grief counseling.
• Counsel service members and their families. While chaplains are not considered clinical counselors, they are often called on to help people with various life challenges including issues related to combat stress, deployment, marriage, profession, family, substance abuse, and finances. Although chaplains are knowledgeable about the basics of various personal issues, they also refer individuals to other counseling sources when appropriate.  
• Conduct visitation with injured or ill service members. Chaplains regularly visit injured or sick service members (at home or in the hospital). Through this one-on-one contact, the chaplain can offer comfort, spiritual support, and pastoral care to those recuperating from illness or injury.
• Advise commanders on moral, ethical, and spiritual issues. Chaplains serve as advisors to commanders on all matters of morality, integrity, and religion. 
• Develop religious education programs and youth activities. Chaplains provide religious instruction and are responsible to the commander for religious education programs such as Sunday-school classes and youth programs.
• Conduct morale, spiritual, and social development seminars and retreats. Chaplains conduct seminars and retreats for service members and their families to include those addressing marriage enrichment, parenting skills, spiritual-leadership training, service member transition from combat operation, anger management, and spiritual formation for youth and adults.

Eligibility

Chaplain services are available to active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members, their families, and authorized DoD civilians.

Availability

These programs are available worldwide through unit chaplains and installation chaplains on military installations.

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