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 maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

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 Navy Department or Department of the Navy may refer to: * United States Department of the Navy, * Navy Department (Ministry of Defence), in the United Kingdom, 1964-1997 * Confederate States Department of the Navy, 1861-1865 * Department of the Na ...

," which includes the Navy and the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

. 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 law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

. 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 m ...

in the

Religious Program Specialist Religious program specialist (RP) is a United States Navy rating. Religious program specialists assist naval chaplains in their duties as well as provide support to naval chaplains in developing programs to meet the needs of U.S. Navy sailors, ...

(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 States during the American Revolutionary War and was founded October 13, 1775. The fleet cumulatively became relatively substantial through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron John Adams ...

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

Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress was a late-18th-century meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolutionary War. The Congress was creating a new country it first named "United Colonies" and in 1 ...

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 United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

. The second article of the Navy regulations of 1775 read: "The Commanders of the ships of the thirteen United Colonies, are to take care that divine service be performed twice a day onboard, and a sermon preached on Sundays unless bad weather or other extraordinary accidents prevent." Although the chaplain is not mentioned in this article, the reference to a sermon implies that Congress intended that an ordained clergyman be on board. 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 Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

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 US Navy after the department was established in 1798. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, 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 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, j ...

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, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and the many variet ...

and

faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

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 US 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 or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree. The organization and struc ...

, 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 Religious philosophy is philosophical thinking that is influenced and directed as a consequence to teachings from a particular religion. It can be done objectively, but may also be done as a persuasion tool by believers in that faith. Religious ...

, 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 a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...

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 seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

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. Accession-level RP training is located at Naval Technical Training Center Meridian, Mississippi.

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. In the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, ''Accommodating Faith in the Military'' (dated 3 July 2008) states: "That precise question has been raised in a series of cases, going back a decade, over the way that the Navy selects chaplains. These lawsuits allege that the Navy has hired chaplains using a "thirds policy," a formula dividing its chaplains into thirds: one-third consisting of liturgical Protestant denominations (such as

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

Lutherans Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched ...

Episcopalians Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

and

Presbyterians Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

); another third consisting of Catholics; and a last third consisting of non-liturgical Protestant denominations (such as

Baptists Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

evangelicals Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...

Bible church Bible church is a type of Christian organisation which emphasizes the Bible as its behavioral standard, and focuses on the inerrancy of the Bible. It is typically a type of evangelical Protestant church. Bible churches can be non-denominational ...

es,

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement

s and

charismatics Charismatic Christianity (also known as Spirit-filled Christianity by its supporters) is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles as an everyday part of a believer's life. Pract ...

) and other faiths. The lawsuits claim that the Navy's criteria are unconstitutional because they disfavor non-liturgical Protestants, who make up a great deal more than one-third of the Navy, while Catholics and liturgical Protestants each make up less than one-third. 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. federal appellate cou ...

. 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 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 ...

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.

Chaplain of the Coast Guard The Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard (COCG) is the senior chaplain of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and is attached to USCG headquarters in Washington, D.C. as a United States Navy Chaplain Corps officer who reports directly to th ...

Chapels at U.S. Naval Academy

Naval Academy Chapel The United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, is one of two houses of worship on the grounds of the Navy's service academy. Protestant and Catholic services are held there. The Naval Academy Chapel is a focal point of the Acade ...

* Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center and Jewish Chapel At the

U.S. Coast Guard Academy The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is a service academy of the United States Coast Guard in New London, Connecticut. Founded in 1876, it is the smallest of the five U.S. service academies and provides education to future Coast G ...

, the current Catholic chaplain is

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

William Appel

Prayers

* ''

Eternal Father, Strong to Save "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" is a British hymn traditionally associated with seafarers, particularly in the maritime armed services. Written in 1860, its author, William Whiting, was inspired by the dangers of the sea described in Psalm ...

(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) * Coast Guard prayers * Marine Prayer

Navy Hospital Corpsman Prayer

Notable chaplains

Barry C. Black Barry Clayton Black (born November 1, 1948) is the 62nd chaplain of the United States Senate. He began serving as Senate chaplain on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans ...

– Chaplain for 27 years and 22nd Chief of Chaplains of the Navy. *

Vincent R. Capodanno Vincent Robert Capodanno Jr., M.M. (February 13, 1929 – September 4, 1967) was a Catholic priest and Maryknoll Missioner killed in action while serving as a Navy chaplain with a Marine Corps infantry unit during the Vietnam War. He was a posthu ...

– 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 military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

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 Adam John Marshall (born 4 September 1984), an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales in the second Berejiklian ministry since April 2019. Marshall is a member of the New South Wales ...

– First Catholic chaplain in the Navy. *

Joseph T. O'Callahan Joseph Timothy O'Callahan (May 14, 1905 – March 18, 1964) was a Jesuit priest and, during World War II, a United States Navy chaplain. He was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during and a ...

– Chaplain during World War II. Awarded the Medal of Honor. USS ''O'Callahan'' was named in his honor. *

John Joseph O'Connor John Joseph O'Connor may refer to: * John O'Connor (cardinal), archbishop of New York * John J. O'Connor (bishop of Newark), American prelate of the Catholic Church. * John J. O'Connor (New York representative), U.S. Representative from New York * ...

– Chaplain during the Korean War and 14th Chief of Chaplains of the Navy. Later

Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York The Archbishop of New York is the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, who is responsible for looking after its spiritual and administrative needs. As the archdiocese is the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province encompass ...

and Cardinal. *

George S. Rentz George Snavely Rentz (July 25, 1882 – March 1, 1942) was a United States Navy United States Navy Chaplain Corps, chaplain who served during World War I and World War II. For selfless heroism following the loss of in the Battle of Sunda Stra ...

– 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 Navy and United States Marine Corps' 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 eq ...

during World War II. USS ''Rentz'' was named in his honor. *

Aloysius H. Schmitt Father Aloysius H. Schmitt (December 4, 1909 – December 7, 1941) was a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, who served as a chaplain in the United States Navy at the beginning of World War II. Early life and ordination Born in ...

– 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 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, j ...

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

Memorial Hall A memorial hall is a hall built to commemorate an individual or group; most commonly those who have died in war. Most are intended for public use and are sometimes described as ''utilitarian memorials''. History of the Memorial Hall In the aft ...

at the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. See also * Military academy A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally pro ...

.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 ''The Bluejacket's Manual'' is the basic handbook for United States Navy personnel. First issued in 1902 to teach recruits about naval procedures and life and offer a reference for active sailors, it has become the "bible" for Navy personnel, pro ...

)
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