The Religious Support System of the United States Army

The comprehensive religious support system of the U.S. Army is implemented through the Army Chaplaincy. The Chaplaincy exists historically to ensure the free exercise of religion. It is a significant player in the Army organization, and serves to support commanders in their responsibility to provide for the religious needs of soldiers and family members. Religious support also means ministry to the command. This includes ministry to the commander as well as to the unit. Chaplains are assigned at every echelon of command down to battalion level and have specific responsibilities which ensures consistent religious support throughout the Army. Commanders have regulations to guide them in their support of the chaplain and the religious program, but both the chaplain and the Army receive technical religious support from the Chief of Chaplains office. It provides the program and policy guidance which ensures that religious support conforms to constitutional constraints, benefits all faith groups, and trains religious support personnel. The Chief of Chaplains also provides guidance on chapel facilities, resource and information management, Army programs, funding issues, training requirements, and chaplain personnel issues. The MACOM chaplains implement the Chief of Chaplains policy within their respective MACOMs and carry out other programs as executive agents. The religious support system of the Army is organized and structured to provide a total religious support program for the Total Army.