"The spiritual needs of our troops are met by our chaplains," said Peter Levine, former acting under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness told more than 100 ecclesiastical endorsers at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia, Jan. 12.

Levine, special guest at the annual Armed Forces Chaplain Board (AFCB) Military Chaplains Ecclesiastical Endorsers Conference, underscored the connection military chaplains have to those they serve.

"They're with us on posts, ships; they're with us at all our air bases around the world, 24/7," added Levine.

The AFCB members consist of the chiefs of chaplains of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and their deputies. Together the AFCB advises the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness on religious and readiness matters.

"'The Chaplain the Military Needs' is this year's theme," said Capt. Jerome Hinson, a Navy chaplain, AFCB executive director and conference coordinator. "Endorsers are responsible for the religious credentialing of the [military] chaplains they endorse."

Rear Adm. Margaret G. Kibben, chief of chaplains of the Navy and AFCB chair, led a conversation about current Department of Defense demographics.

"In the 21st Century, the military ... is young and increasingly diverse," said Kibben. "It is predominantly made up of millennials (those born 1977-2000). They make up 86 percent of the military. There's a strong sense of service amongst this generation."

Maj. Gen. Paul K. Hurley, chief of chaplains of the U.S. Army, described the profile of the challenged chaplain today and in the future.

"A chaplain who is not the right fit for the military is not grounded in his or her religious identity, is not committed to operating in a pluralistic environment ... does not embrace the rites and rituals of the military ... is not adaptive to different cultural perspectives ... and does not maintain a personal commitment to faith and family," said Hurley.

Maj. Gen. Dondi Costin, chief of chaplains of the U.S. Air Force, described the character and attributes needed in 21st-century military chaplains.

"The successful chaplain has the right temperament ... good social and communication skills ... operates from a secure, spiritual center ... functions well in a dynamic operational environment," said Costin.

The picture of what the ministry environment will look like going forward, and what it will take to continue to mature professional military chaplaincy was clearly conveyed by Kibben, Hurley, and Costin, and well received by the endorsers.

During the question and answer period, the three chiefs of chaplains engaged in a robust dialogue with endorsers on a wide variety of issues, to include recruiting.

The Manpower and Reserve Affairs office has more information about recruiting chaplains in the military.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.