FORT LEAVENWORTH , Kan – Chaplains assigned to U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, shared lunch, fellowship, and camaraderie with Soldiers, Army Civilian Professionals (ACPs) and family members at the Frontier Chapel July 29 to celebrate the 249th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.
The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest and smallest branches of the Army with approximately 1,500 U.S. Army active-duty chaplains currently serving.
On July 29, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized one chaplain for each regiment of the Continental Army, and chaplains have served in every American war since. Chaplains provide services for the religious and spiritual needs of the military, and they advise commanders and staff on religious and counseling matters. The Chaplain Corps wants to nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the fallen.
The Department of Defense (DoD) approves more than 150 different religious beliefs, and spirituality groups, and the DoD allows each service member to practice his or her religion.
Religious programs are organized within the Commander’s Master Religious Program, and chaplains perform (or provide) religious faith services. If a requested faith service is unavailable on post the chaplain may request approval for a non-chaplain to lead the requested faith service on post as a Distinctive Religious Group Leader.
“I have been a chaplain since 2008, and like all chaplains, my career began with numerous educational checkpoints,” said Maj. Christopher Weinrich, Fort Leavenworth chaplain for plans and operations. “I completed a B.A. degree, a Master of Divinity, received ordination from my religious denomination, worked with the religious group for field experience, and then received endorsement from the religious group.”
Army chaplains must complete the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course, which is conducted at the U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership (USA-IRL) at
Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Religious affairs specialists are enlisted Soldiers who completed their advanced individual training, at USA-IRL. Chaplains and religious affairs specialists work together in formations as part of the Unit Ministry Team (UMT). After initial military training, chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists return to USA-IRL at various times throughout their careers to complete professional military education, and professional development education courses.
Caring for people is at the heart of the Army Chaplain Corps. Issues can arise, as they do with most individuals and Families, and chaplains are there to help foster safe places in our communities to wrestle with issues and talk through challenges. Chaplains deliver faith services, and they are available to listen to and provide counsel to service members, family members, and ACPs.
Weinrich said there are many great and rewarding aspects to service as a chaplain, and his favorite memories were from the chapel services in Iraq and Kuwait, rotations throughout the National Training Center, and working with thousands of service members and their families.
“One of my favorite memories occurred during the end of my first deployment to Taji, Iraq,” Weinrich recalled. “The chaplains and I celebrated our final Sunday chapel service at the airfield on the Easter holiday. We saw the symbolism of Christ’s resurrection brought closure to our deployment. The sunrise looked amazing!”
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