Status of Navy Chaplains, Religious Program Specialists, and Chaplain Assistants
This MARADMIN clarifies the status and responsibilities of Navy Chaplains, Religious Program Specialists (RPs), and Marine Chaplain Assistants (CAs) serving with Marine Corps units. It emphasizes that chaplains are noncombatants who shall not bear arms, while RPs and CAs are combatants assigned to provide security for chaplains during expeditionary combat operations. Commanders are encouraged to review relevant policies to ensure proper training and assignment of duties.
Issued: March 2, 2004
1. THIS MARADMIN REVIEWS POLICY GUIDANCE REGARDING THE STATUS OF CHAPLAINS, RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS (RP'S) AND MARINE CHAPLAIN ASSISTANTS (CA'S). COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THE POLICIES ESTABLISHED IN THE REFERENCES REGARDING THEIR STATUS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEY ARE FULLY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM THEIR ASSIGNED TASKS. 2. PER REFS A, B AND C, CHAPLAINS ARE NONCOMBATANTS AND BY POLICY SHALL NOT BEAR ARMS. FURTHER, CHAPLAINS SHALL NOT BE ASSIGNED DUTIES THAT VIOLATE THEIR NONCOMBATANT STATUS. 3. RP'S AND CA'S ARE COMBATANTS, AND THEY ARE ASSIGNED, AMONG OTHER DUTIES, TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR CHAPLAINS IN EXPEDITIONARY COMBAT OPERATIONS. MARINE CA'S ARE ASSIGNED TO CHAPLAINS WHEN REQUIRED RP MANNING IS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE UNIT T/O SUPPORTS THIS REQUIREMENT. 4. CHAPLAINS AND RP'S RECEIVE EXPEDITIONARY SKILLS TRAINING BEFORE ASSIGNMENT TO MARINE UNITS, AND, ONCE ASSIGNED, THEY MAY PARTICIPATE IN UNIT BATTLE SKILLS TRAINING. 5. SUPERVISORY CHAPLAINS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION IN THESE MATTERS. POC FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRY POLICY COMPLIANCE IN THE USMC IS RDML ROBERT BURT, CHC, USN, CHAPLAIN OF THE MARINE CORPS (REL) AT DSN 224-4627.