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Chaplain Corps

Navy Chaplain Corps Focuses on the Warfighter

18 August 2021

18 August 2021

When we think of Navy chaplains, we often envision a religious service aboard a ship or with Marines in the field. While true, Navy chaplains spend most of their time caring for Sailors, Marines, and their dependents throughout all aspects of military life. 

The primary mission of the Navy Chaplain Corps is to provide religious ministry and care for all Department of the Navy personnel and their dependents. This mission directly supports the Navy’s strategy to have a ready fleet manned by the world’s greatest sailors.

“To build force readiness, the Chaplain Corps’ focus must be on programs and services that benefit the uniformed warfighter,” said Rear Adm. Gregory Todd, deputy chief of chaplains. “We regularly take a look at our programs and services to make sure we are able to provide the care our sailors need to foster their faith and remain focused on the Navy’s overall mission.”

To fulfill its responsibility to ensure Sailors are fully prepared for naval service, the Navy is realigning religious ministry to better serve the service’s largest demographic: 18- to 25-year-old Sailors. This realignment will provide waterfront ministry, first and foremost, to warfighters and their families.

Part of this realignment will occur at Naval Base San Diego, which is a fleet-concentration installation that supports multiple ships and thousands of Sailors and dependents. A recent demographic study of the base chapel determined that the current contract to provide Roman Catholic services at the base chapel did not directly support the needs of 18- to 25-year-old Sailors. As a result, a new contract will be implemented to do just that.

“This new contract will bring services literally to the waterfront so our Roman Catholic sailors are able to practice their faith and receive direct support throughout the workweek,” said Capt. David Bynum, Force Chaplain of Commander, Navy Installations Command. “This is one of many ways we are focusing on the care of our Sailors.”

In addition, representatives of the Navy’s Chief of Chaplains and Commander, Navy Region Southwest Religious Ministry Team are working with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego to facilitate connections with parishes in the surrounding area. This will provide another option for Roman Catholic Sailors to practice their faith in the surrounding community.

Navy chaplains serve all Sailors, regardless of faith. There are more than 800 Navy chaplains from more than 100 different religious organizations and are deployed worldwide with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commands.

 

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