USAWC (United States Army War College) Military Studies Program. The Chaplain as Personal/Special Staff Officer.

摘要

The chaplain is a member of the commander's personal and/or special staff. There are, however, periodic attempts to place the chaplain under the DA-DCSPER (Dept. of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel)/DCSPER/DPCA/G-1. This study examines the chaplain's unique role in the Army. It presents evidence of the chaplain's effectiveness as a personal or special staff officer through historical analysis of chaplain initiatives in the past fifteen years. The most current DA-DCSPER proposal is presented as well as responses from MACOMs (Major Army Commands) and the Chief of Chaplains confirming the need to maintain chaplains in personal or special staff positions. All evidence points to the fact that the chaplain in his unique role as clergy-person and officer can most effectively minister to individuals and the Army institution as a nondirectorate personal or special staff member. The effectiveness of the chaplain would be lost to the Army if any other staff elements were interposed between the commander and the chaplain.