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