The Chaplain as the Commander’s Advisor on Matters of Religion, Ethics, and Diplomacy

Fluid Nature of Chaplaincy

“Three-block War”

• Primary mission

• Cognizant Staff Officer– Particular expertise– Sensitivities

• And back again . . .

Levels of War

• Strategic– Theater– National

• Operational

• Tactical

Provision/Facilitation COMRELs Morals, Ethics Country briefs Command Climate Immediate issues:

DPRE /JTF CoordinationClimate: Stress, OPTEMPO

Planning process/Staff estimates Religious Area Analysis- implications - Situational awareness- external impact Interface: CMOC/HN- force protection

Training

Foundational principles Engagement - Moral/ethical groundwork Implications - Facilitation Area Analysis: Current eventsReal Time & Future Regional assessment

Requirements Causal/Mitigating factorsStrategy Track 1/Track 2 interface

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Advisory Process

Factors

Ordination/toleration Situational awarenessIntegration

Professional education World religions expertise(military/ethical)

Role/status ambiguity Role ambiguity - collection“Force multiplier” Perception

Ethical framework Professional military educationStrategic understanding/languageFaith group stipulations/framework

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The Value of Training

Chaplains and Commandersare only as good as

their training and education.

The Role We Play

In Summary

The dual role

The challenges

The value of training

Achieve understanding