FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ September 19 2004

Chaplinservice ^ | Guest Military Chaplain and FRiends of the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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	9 October 1998 Chaplain Says Religious Corps Crucial In Military A leading U.S. military chaplain says it is exciting and encouraging to see many of the ex-communist countries forming corps of chaplains within their armed forces. Rear Admiral Byron Holderby, chief of chaplains for the U.S. Navy, made the comment during an RFE/RL interview in Washington. He says he believes chaplain corps would be helpful as many of the former Soviet bloc countries restructure their armed forces. Holderby says that chaplain corps play an important role in the military beyond providing religious services and counseling. He says that in the U.S. military, chaplains have other duties such as monitoring and boosting morale, advising commanding officers of specific religious holidays and cultural traditions, teaching courses on values, interpersonal skills and leadership, and offering a wide range of counseling services to military personnel and their families. Holderby says that historically, the U.S. military chaplain corps was formed according to the British model. He says that when the American colonies were formed, each of the local militias always had a chaplain. America's first president, George Washington, was the first to hire military chaplains on a federal basis. In 1775, Congress authorized the creation of a chaplain corps and officially put it in the articles of military regulations, he says. Today in the U.S. armed forces, Holderby says there are approximately 2,700 chaplains, representing more than 100 different religious faiths. Among the faiths represented are Catholics, Muslims, Protestants, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists and Christian Scientists. Any religion can petition to have its clergy join the U.S. military, explains Holderby. The way it works, he says, is that the religious group must contact the military with a qualified candidate who is willing to serve in the armed forces. The requirements for a chaplain are fairly simple -- a person must have an undergraduate degree and another 90 hours of graduate study. The candidate must also be officially endorsed, trained, and certified in the particular faith by the religious organization. Holderby explains: "Churches themselves take care of the religious training. Each church will send their person to a seminary or to a viable college or to some sort of advanced education beyond their bachelor's degree that will certify them to be clergy in their particular branch. The military does not get into the religious training." Once a candidate is accepted, they are immediately commissioned as officers, says Holderby. He adds that the military does provide about eight weeks of basic training for the chaplains, mostly to familiarize them with specific military culture and language. Holderby says that chaplains must wear uniforms like other soldiers and are subject to all the rules and regulations of military personnel. The only difference, he explains, is that chaplains wear what is called a "corps device" on their uniforms. The device is a symbol that the chaplains wear on their left collar to indicate their particular religion, says Holderby. It also indicates that the officer does not have command privileges, but is part of the chaplain corps, he adds. Holderby explains: "If it is a Christian chaplain, he will wear a cross on his left collar. If it is a Jewish chaplain, he will wear the tablets of the law on his left collar. If he is Muslim, he will wear the crescent on his left collar, and so on. This will identify to people that this person is a chaplain." Holderby says that chaplains are permitted to wear religious clothing when conducting religious ceremonies and on special occasions. They are also promoted in rank according to their job performance, just like any other military personnel, he adds. The chaplains are overseen not only by their commanding officers, but by a special civilian board made up of representatives from each of the religious denominations represented in the military, says Holderby. This group, which meets several times a year, developed a code of ethics by which all the chaplains must abide, regardless of their religion. Some of the ethics include respect for all religions and not trying to convert people of other faiths to their own, he adds. Sensitivity and respect for all religions is a critical part of a chaplain's job, says Holderby. For example, he says when he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, it was his job to inform the school commander of the different religious holidays. Explains Holderby: "We had exchange students there who were Muslim, and it was my job to tell the commander when they were going into high holy days and what their food requirements were. The school then provided for them. For Jewish personnel, if they wanted to observe a holy day, I would go to the commander and ask that they be allowed to observe the day. So, unless there was a military necessity which would keep that from happening, they would be permitted to have the time off." Frank Silnicky, a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant who is Jewish, told RFE/RL that he was impressed by the chaplains sensitivity to military personnel of all faiths during his tour of duty. He says the chaplains were consistently accommodating and respectful of his faith along with the differing religious beliefs of his comrades. Says Silnicky: "This may be so, possibly because the U.S. is such a pluralistic society and we have so many different people. But more than anything else, it is legislated -- it is a part of official military procedure." The military procedure of commissioning chaplains into the armed services is becoming popular in many of the ex-communist nations, says Holderby, adding that he thinks it is a "wonderful" development. For example, Tiit Tammela, the defense attache' at the Estonian Embassy to the U.S., told RFE/RL that his country's military instituted a chaplain corps six years ago. He says that while the corps is still young and developing, it is already considered an integral part of his country's military system. The story is different in Russia, however. On May 27, the Russian Duma adopted a law about the status of military personnel. The Russian journal Itogi reprinted an excerpt from this law in its June 7 issue where it was stated that the state has "no responsibility to provide military personnel with services connected to their religious beliefs and execution of religious worship." But Holderby says that those countries interested in forming chaplain corps can always count on help and advice from the U.S., if it is wanted. Concludes Holderby: "We certainly stand ready to help in any way we can. We think our model of being able to work together with various faith groups is a solid one. We would always be willing to share how that works with anyone who is moving in that direction."

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Dear God:
I ask that no Airman, Coast Guardsman,
Marine, Sailor, Soldier or National Guardsman
Feel alone or forgotten.
Please guide the people of Free Republic to
The FR Canteen Post Office
So they can e-mail a service man or woman today.
AMEN

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's
Guest Military Chaplain Service


Please stop in and say a prayer of protection for the military. Prayers from all denominations are needed.

                                          


CLICK HERE for Troop Prayer Thread 10

Thank You TEXOKIE

Sunday Liberty starts after the Guest Military Chaplain's Service!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.

[Soaring Feather]

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

FYI : Look in upper right corner of "My Comments" page.
Set it for "Brief" instead of Full.
You only will get title of thread and who pinged you.
No graphics will load.

[writer33]

Thanks for the ping, TGYC.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks for stopping by for Sunday Services.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.

To our military readers, we remain steadfast in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The FR Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.

You will stay right where you are on the thread.
Please take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to send an e-mail.

[Soaring Feather]

9 October 1998
Chaplain Says Religious Corps Crucial In Military

Thank You for today's informative thread.

[writer33]

Well, I was in need of a good mass. So I came by. But I'm also working on my next essay. One of which I think you'll find interesting. I'll be sure to ping you. You did get a ping on my last essay? Free Republic and the New Media. Right?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I'm sure I did.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Yes, it is food for thought.

[writer33]

You're sure? You better be more than sure, son. Don't you know that I'm the most important thing in your life. Until you've dealt with me, nothing else matters. You better get your mind right. :) Hehe!

I was just making sure for the next one, sir.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I've got a one track mind till Nov 2nd

STOP KERRY!

[SevenofNine]

Well Sunday UK Observer reporting that Britain may withdraw unnamed number of troops from Iraq reason is Tony Blair getting nervoussss over his possibity if he call for electiions he get throw on his a** out of office

Also he is tick off with Dubya handling of Prison abuse scandel in Iraq OH OH some trouble in Coaltion
Here some good news there is report off Sunday UK Telegraph that Mongolia YOU KNOW Geingus Khan kinfolks mayyyy bring more troops in 2,000 in Iraq

WHATTT

OH OH that class reunion right there

Remember last time Mongols nail Baghdad in 1257 ad LOL!

Also COOL Sunday UK Telegraph reporting that Russia special forces may be in work track down KING OF Chechen warlord who order that hit on that school in Belsus Russia

OH OH Illya go for Samuel L Jackson reset

[writer33]

"STOP KERRY!"

Stop attacking his patriotism! Have you no honor and dignity for the man that unabashadly called you a "murderer and rapist?"

[SevenofNine]

Well Hareetz wire reporting that IDF gearing up for withdraw from gaza at this hour dont' be suprise it be suicide bombing

WELL This is PLO we talking about they not bright lightbulb

GUYSSS I just saw BBC world news this week on PBS WE MADE THAT SHOWWW Free Republic and how posters punk CBS it is pretty funny

Also Sunday UK Times is reporting that after Parliament got storm by hunting supporters and crazy UK Sun reporter crash House of commons debates that they going to beef up security

I hear Queen Elizabeth is not too happy with Tony Blair right now apparenlty about hunting ban

OH OH Blair is in corgi doghouse

[SandRat]

Thanks for the cup o Tonk.

[Old Sarge]

Greetings, Canteeners, Troops,
and All the Ships at Sea!

Well, it's deep in the night on Sunday Morning, and the Home Detachment is sleeping off a fast-paced last few days: Thursday night's Laser-Tag tournament (came in 2nd out of 6); this morning's international fest, with Kerry supporters all over the place; this afternoon's Dueling in the park (Sarge did better this time); and all coming on the heels of the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:

OLD SARGE IS BACK ON ACTIVE DUTY!

Effective Tuesday, Sarge starts the latest in a series of Active-Duty missions, but THIS one is something never done or even entertained before.

Sarge is going to be a Recruiter. Yeah, you read it right: a 12-month mission as a National Guard Recruiter.

Sarge got a phone call Friday afternoon, from the Guard, saying that he had to report to the Armory that afternoon, for a face2face meeting with the area NCOIC. Sarge had such a glowing interview, that he was recommended for the slot on the spot; having an old veteran as a recruited seems to be a desireable thing these days.

At any rate, the mission kicks off Tuesday, with intorductions, training, and a month-long class in Arkansas. Details are sketchy right now, but there will be more to follow.

Except for one, important detail: THANK YOU to the good Canteen Folks who kept good thoughts and encouragement during this recent break in the missions - the usual standard of support that I've come to know is Canteen standard!

Sarge will be in and out of the area all day, so Let's Have Fun!

SARGE

[Old Sarge]

Have you no honor and dignity for the man that unabashadly called you a "murderer and rapist?"

You don't REALLY want an honest answer... do you?