As a Military Chaplain, what protections are given to you by DOD? What are your rights and what limitations have you experienced?

CH (CPT) Antonio Arnold — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 11:16:29 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2022 11:20 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 11:20:49 -0400

I've never seen a Chaplain in command (not saying that it doesn't happen). I've also never seen anyone mess with Chaplains.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 27 at 2022 3:58 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 15:58:23 -0400

As a non-combatant, you have extra protections under the Geneva Conventions. Under the Constitution, you maintain your religious freedoms.

You will not be required to perform religious ceremonies with which your religion disagrees. But you will have to find a way to accommodate those religious ceremonies for Soldiers in your unit. (This may be finding an appropriate clergy person, finding a location, talking with the Command to allow time off - mission permitting, of course - or other accommodations.) Even if you disagree with the religion or ceremony, you still are required to support the Soldiers.

You are allowed to share your faith, but you are not allowed to force it upon others. And you will be required to provide comfort, counsel, and solace to all members of your unit, regardless of their religion. This may mean leaving your religion at the door if it is one diametrically opposed to theirs. You won't have to VIOLATE your religion - but again with the not forcing it upon others.

I am sure there is more - as you can tell, I am not a Chaplain. But this is the big picture stuff.

The Chaplain is another set of eyes and ears for the Commander, going places the Commander/CSM cannot, and seeing and hearing things the Commander/CSM would not. Very few Soldiers will tell the Commander he is an idiot to his face. But if it is the friendly neighborly Chaplain... well, that's just Chappy. And if Soldiers all across the formation are telling Chappy that the Commander is an idiot (or at least this one policy is stupid), then it is time for the Chaplain to have a heart to heart with the Commander. If the Chaplain is doing his/her job right, he/she can be a VITAL tool for the Command to understand the health, morale, and mental state of the unit. Of course, key to this being effective is the Chaplain maintaining confidentiality. Even outside the confessional (when possible within professional, legal, and ethical constraints).