Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) held a graduation ceremony for 22 Sailors completing Religious Program Specialist (RP) "A" School in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina April 6.

Master Chief Religious Program Specialist Antoine Roach of the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was the guest speaker.

"The coming times will be exciting and trying, but they will all be dependent on you and your determination. Military life doesn't usually follow the plans you lay out for yourself," said Roach. "You will all experience the highs and lows of life, the difficult, the easy, and the unfortunate. Sometimes you may have more difficulties than smooth sailing. Your true success will be defined by your resiliency and ability to navigate adversity."

NCSC Commanding Officer Capt. Steven R. Moses stressed the importance of the RP rating to the graduates.

"As military officers, we chaplains serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States; and as chaplains, at the pleasure of our religious tradition," said Moses. "As Religious Program Specialists you play a critical role in aiding and supporting those religious traditions and caring for your fellow Sailors and Marines."

Religious Program Specialist Seaman Edward T. Nguyen from Houston, Texas, was recognized as the class Honor Graduate.

I chose the RP rating because I wanted a combatant job and the idea of helping the chaplain and assisting in protecting them seemed like the kind of job I would love to do," said Nguyen. He referenced growing up in church, "I love protecting people, and I thought being an RP would be the best of both worlds for me."

The class leader, Religious Program Specialist Seaman Recruit Michael Romero, from Douglas, Arizona, felt the most significant part of RP training was teamwork.

"No one was alone, we all helped each other out," said Romero.

Religious Program Specialist Seaman Matthew Eichler from San Diego, received the Accelerated Advancement Program award.

"I want to be able to accommodate people's religious needs and help people with their spiritual and personal journeys in life," said Eichler.

The RP "A" course convenes four times a year and graduates approximately 120 students. The course prepares Sailors for institutional ministry support to the Navy and Marine Corps.

For more news from the Chaplain Corps, visit
http://www.navy.mil/local/crb/

For information about the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/chaplain/.

For additional information on the Naval Education and Training Command, visit the NETC website: https://www.netc.navy.mil.

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

For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.