What Is a Navy Chaplain?
The Naval Chaplain Corps consists of clergymen and women from more than 100 faiths and denominations. Serving the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, they provide guidance and counseling to servicemen at home and abroad. This is no traditional ministry. Navy chaplains come to know and understand the specific spiritual needs of military personnel who often find themselves working under great pressure .
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Duties
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Navy chaplains have a wide variety of duties. In addition to conducting regular religious services, they also perform weddings, funerals, baptisms and other ceremonies associated with their faith. They provide counseling services to personnel and their families, and dispense spiritual guidance and comfort to the injured. Navy chaplains are also responsible for teaching Sunday school classes, holding conferences and mentoring new recruits.
Code of Ethics
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All Navy chaplains must abide by a code of ethics. This asks chaplains to live by their faith and to respect the faiths of others, refraining from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, gender or nationality. They promise to build and preserve relationships, stay disciplined and keep in good health. The military ministry must be a Navy chaplain's main priority, though civilian ministries may be taken on if time permits, and should not be used for the purposes of one's own personal gain. Anything said to a Navy chaplain is to be kept in confidence.
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Requirements
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Those aspiring to become a Navy chaplain must be citizens of the United States and at least 21 years old. He or she must pass a physical exam and a background check, and must be prepared to work under a variety of conditions under pressure. A bachelor's degree is required, as well as a graduate degree with at least 72 credit hours in theological studies. Potential Navy chaplains must also have an endorsement from their faith group. At least two years of religious leadership experience is preferred.
Chaplain Candidate Program Officer Program
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For those who do not yet meet the requirements for becoming a Navy chaplain, the Navy has a Chaplain Candidate Program Officer Program (CCPO) to prepare aspiring chaplains for eventual service in the Chaplain Corps. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, possess a bachelor's degree and be a student in good standing at an accredited graduate program that requires at least 72 hours of theological studies. They must also obtain a letter of approval from their faith group.
Training
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Once accepted, Navy chaplains attend the Navy Chaplain School in Newport, Rhode Island. There, they take three courses that prepare them for active duty. The Navy Chaplain Basic Course (NCBC) introduces candidates to military structure and the ways in which a ministry is run in a naval setting. The Amphibious/Expeditionary Course (AMEX) trains candidates in marine commands and operations. The last course, Tools, Empowerment and Ministry Skills (TEAMS), instructs chaplains on aspects of the navy that will enable them to respond to any situation.
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