What Is an Army Chaplain?
An Army chaplain can be a rabbi, a minister, a priest or any other member of the clergy who has the responsibility of protecting and guiding the spiritual health and well-being of service members and their families.
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Job Responsibilities
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An Army chaplain performs many jobs and is expected to be on call at all hours for spiritual support, organizing and coordinating sermons and other religious events. Along with those responsibilities, a chaplain is also expected to follow the unit and offer religious workshops, counseling sessions and prayer. A chaplain must manage, instruct and organize a unit ministry team and be prepared to organize and carry through with special missions. A chaplain is never asked to participate in battle by carrying a firearm or engaging in the fighting; in fact, a chaplain is forbidden to bear arms. A chaplain can advance to higher levels of responsibility and leadership positions.
Training and Requirements
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To serve as an officer of the Army Chaplain Corps, other members of their faith group must certify an individual. The chaplain must be able to emotionally, physically, mentally, morally and spiritually cope with the environment in which they will serve. The Army also requires that chaplains obtain a baccalaureate degree and a masters or graduate degree in theological studies or divinity. In addition, a chaplain must agree to perform last rites for dying soldiers of various religions. A 12-week training course is required before a chaplain can serve in active duty.
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Skills
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Skills that a chaplain may put to use include confidence, intelligence, initiative and self-discipline. Army chaplains must be physically fit to deal with the situations they will be placed in. While showing respect for all other Army personnel, attempting to help others at all hours and focusing on their own missions, a chaplain must be able to handle multiple mental pressures. Army chaplains must feel comfortable making their own decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions, and must always be ready for change.
Rules
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The Geneva Conventions does not state that a chaplain cannot not bear arms, however the conventions do state that chaplains are noncombatants. Many nations have required that chaplains be unarmed, while other nations allow the individual chaplain to decide whether he wishes to be armed. The Geneva Conventions also protect captured chaplains and states that they may not be prisoners of war but must be returned to their home country, unless they are serving as a chaplain to other prisoners of war.
Additional Information
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More than 100 U.S. Army chaplains died in World War II. The United States offers the Medal of Heroism to chaplains who die in the line of duty. To date, four chaplains and their families have received this award.
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