The Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) graduated 13 students from the Religious Program Specialist (RP) Managers Course Sept. 1.

The eight-week hybrid learning course has two distinct phases involving an online distance learning portion for six weeks followed by a resident instructor-led training for two weeks.

The combined instruction provides organizational training in administration, religious advisement, ministry support and accommodation, pastoral care support, expeditionary ministry support, and finance and accounting for first class petty officers and senior second class petty officers in the RP rating, to prepare them for increasing responsibility in the running of a command religious program.

The students are assigned to various commands including: Brigs, chapels, overseas duty stations, sea duty, shore duty, special warfare, and training commands.

"Having such a variety of domains represented in the classroom created great conversations throughout the course, which enhanced topics, such as religious offering fund, humanitarian and disaster relief, and managing subordinate personnel," said Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Angel Pacheco, lead instructor. "The knowledge the students gained will assist them in being not only great managers of their command religious program but also great leaders."

Students learned how to accommodate religious ministry requirements of various faith groups; support religious ministry; facilitate the free exercise of religion for all sea service personnel; support the delivery of care as part of a Religious Military Team (RMT); and advise leadership on morale, ethical decision-making, cross-cultural awareness and conflict resolution.

"The skills I developed within the class will ensure mission-critical matters will be met to ensure the RMT is providing the highest level of professional naval chaplaincy to the fleet," said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Kevin L. Grier.

Grier, who will deploy with Naval Special Warfare Group 1 for the first time as a team with his chaplain, said he feels more prepared to handle real-life situations after participating in the class scenarios related to ministry support in combat, ministry resource logistics on ship, and handling confidential communications as an RP.

"The information for this course has been very practical and useful," said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Lonnie McDade. "It has taught me that I must take the initiative to ensure the Sailors under my care have the tools needed to succeed personally and professionally."

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

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