The Armed Forces Chaplains Board (AFCB) is an organizational entity within the
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national secu ...
established to advise the
Secretary of Defense
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
and the
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
The under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, or USD (P&R) is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) within the United States Department of Defense responsible for advising the secretary an ...
on religious, ethical, and moral matters, in addition to a number of policy issues affecting religious ministry and the support of the free exercise of religion within the military services.
[prhome.defense.gov](_blank)
, retrieved May 13, 2011.[DOD Instruction 5120.08](_blank)
retrieved May 13, 2011. It is made up of the three Chiefs of Chaplains and three active-duty Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Composition and Leadership
The Chair of the AFCB is a position rotated among the three services, with the Chief of Chaplains appointed as Chair for a period of eighteen months.
In addition a senior military chaplain holding the rank of O-6 (Army or Air Force Colonel or Navy Captain) serves as the AFCB Executive Director for a three-year term.
According to the Department of Defense Instruction governing the Board, it is recommended that the Executive Director not be serving in the same branch of the Armed Forces as the current Chair, but not required.
Military chaplains of specific religious faiths may be appointed to serve as special consultants to the AFCB on issues concerning those faiths, and the Board may establish committees to conduct studies, make recommendations, "or otherwise assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities."
Policy Advice
The AFCB is tasked to provide advice on issues including:
*Protection of free exercise of religion
*Procurement, professional standards, requirements, training, and assignment of military chaplains
*Religious support providers
*Procurement and utilization of supplies, equipment, and facilities for religious use
*Promotion of dialog with civilian organizations regarding religious issues
*Promotion of joint military endeavors for the delivery of ministry by the Military Services throughout the Department of Defense.
Current AFCB Members
File:Thomas L. Solhjem (5).jpg, Chaplain (Major General) Thomas L. Solhjem
Thomas Lynn Solhjem (born 1956) is a retired United States Army major general who last served as the 25th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. Solhjem is the first ordained Assemblies of God minister to attain the position.
Education
Sol ...
, Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army (CCH) is the chief supervising officer of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. (Chaplains do not hold commanding authority). From 1775 to 1920, chaplains were attached to separate units. The Office of th ...
File:William Green, Jr. (2).jpg, Chaplain (Brigadier General
William Green Jr.
Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
The Deputy Chief of Chaplains (DCCH) serves as the chief strategist for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps and senior coordinating general officer for actions assigned to Assistant Chiefs of Chaplains (Reserve Component) and the USACHCS Chief of Chapla ...
File:Gregory N. Todd (4).jpg, Rear Admiral Gregory N. Todd, Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy (CHC) is the highest-ranking military chaplain in the United States Navy and head of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. As part of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Department of ...
File:Carey H. Cash (4).jpg, Rear Admiral (lower half) Carey H. Cash, Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps (CHMC) is a position always filled by the officers serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000.
File:Ch, Maj Gen Kitchens.jpg, Chaplain (Major General
Randall Kitchens
Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force (HAF/HC) is the senior chaplain in the United States Air Force, the functional leader of thU.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps and the senior advisor on religious issues to the Secretary and Chief of ...
File:Ch, Brig Gen Brantingham.jpg, Chaplain (Brigadier General) James Brantingham, Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force
The Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force is the second senior-most chaplain in the United States Air Forcebr>Chaplain Corps holding the rank of brigadier general, and acting as principal deputy to the Chief of Chaplains of the ...
Executive Directors
The current executive director is: CH (LT COL) Dale Marlowe (Air Force); previously, CH (CAPT) William Riley (Navy), CH (COL) Jay Johns (Army), CH (CAPT) Jere Hinson (Navy), CH (COL) Jerry Pitts (Air Force), CH (COL) Steve Moon (Army), CH (COL) Thomas E. Preston (Army).
See also
*
Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States
In the United States armed forces, the Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States are the senior service chaplains who lead and represent the Chaplain Corps of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Navy created the first Office of the Chie ...
*
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 ...
*
Chaplain
A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a Minister (Christianity), minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a laity, lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secularity, secular institution (such as a hosp ...
*
Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center
The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center (AFCC) is the center for training of United States military chaplains, located at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. Co-located on the AFCC campus are: the United States Army Chaplain Center and School, ...
*
United States military chaplain symbols
Religious symbolism in the United States military includes the use of religious symbols for military chaplain insignia, uniforms, emblems, flags, and chapels; symbolic gestures, actions, and words used in military rituals and ceremonies; and reli ...
References
External links
Joint Publication 1-05: Religious Affairs in Joint Operations 13 November 2009. United States Joint Forces Command (lead agent and JS doctrine sponsor for this publication: Office of Religious Affairs)
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United States Department of Defense agencies
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
Religion in the United States military