Pretty much every soldier knows that Chaplain's assistants are not assistants in the Chaplain's ministry, but infantrymen assigned to protecting the Chaplain. Chaplains do not carry weapons, as doing so would be a "conflict of interest." At least that's how my husband explained it to me.
I don't entirely follow the article. Is Cindy Sheehan is stating that her son was offered a "non-combat" position as a Chaplain's assistant? If so, that's a blatant lie. Anyone in the Army long enough to be entering their second enlistment knows what that position is.
Every soldier may know this, but its simply not true. Chaplain's Assistant is a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), and a non-combat one to boot. They are armed, as are all soldiers except conscientious objector medics, and chaplains - although I've known many who have abandoned that practice after some experience of combat.
> Chaplains do not carry weapons
Well, my father (VN vet) has mroe than one tale of chaplains packing - and using - heat.
> as doing so would be a "conflict of interest."
That's why the Army needs to start hiring Asatru or Sikh chaplains. No such conflict exists in those religions.