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In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to put all military ministry training at the same location. While it was authorized, funding was not part of the BRAC, and the Air Force departed Ft Jackson in 2012, currently leaving only the Army and Navy at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center.[3]
The purpose of the AFCC was to have closer cooperation among the three chaplain corps and to share instruction and training. While that was the goal, the core curricula were maintained by the three service schools and a joint program of instruction (POI) was never created.[3]
Due to a revision of DA PAM 611-21 (Military Occupational Classification and Structure) Effective 1 October 2013, Chaplain Candidates, previously belonging to the Staff Specialist Branch until ordination have worn the Staff Specialist insignia in lieu of religious denomination insignia. The transition from the Staff Specialist Branch to the Chaplain Branch left the candidates without an authorized branch insignia. Responding to the need, Chief of Chaplains Chaplain (Major General) Donald L. Rutherford submitted a request for collar insignia which was approved by HQDA, G-1 on 23 February 2012. The design for the collar insignia was authorized on 18 June 2012.[5]
The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army is the head of the Army Chaplaincy. The position was created to better organize the corps. The current Chief of Chaplains is Chaplain (Major General) William Green, Jr., who became the United States Army's 26th Chief of Chaplains on 5 December 2023.[7]
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Army bases chaplaincy
See footnotes[8][9]
For a link to the chaplaincy at each of the bases listed below, see general footnote[10]and the footnote following each base
Field Service (unfinished oil) by James Pollock, U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Artists Team IV (CAT IV 1967)Chaplain Martain's Bible by Stephen H. Sheldon, U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Artists Team III (CAT III 1967)A Roman Catholic army chaplain celebrating a Mass for Union soldiers and officers during the American Civil War (1861–1865).
For USA Civil War chaplains, see footnote[28]
For historic photographs of Army chaplains in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, see footnote[29]
The U.S. Army Chaplain Museum is located at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.[30] It was established on 14 August 1957, at the then–United States Army Chaplain School at Fort Slocum, New York. It was dedicated on 10 February 1958, by Chaplain (MG) Patrick J. Ryan, Chief of Chaplains.[31]
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"The Four Chaplains"
When the troop-transport ship Dorchester was torpedoed during World War II, four Army chaplains ministered to the soldiers and sailors on the sinking ship, gave up their life jackets, and sacrificed their lives when the ship sank.[32] Those chaplains – known as "The Four Chaplains" – were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed.
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Other notable chaplains
Patrick J. Boyle – Colonel, US Army, Roman Catholic Chaplain for the 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Air Cavalry Division, serving three tours during the Vietnam War. Awarded two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, Air Medal, and Parachutist Badge.
Alice M. Henderson – First woman, and woman of color commissioned as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps[37]
Emil J. Kapaun – Chaplain during the Korean War. Died in a POW camp on 23 May 1951. In the process of canonization; awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in April 2013[38]
Colman O'Flaherty – Chaplain during World War I. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously.
John D. McCarty – A Protestant Episcopal priest, he served as U.S. Army chaplain at the front, during the Mexican–American War, with General Scott's army.
Khady Ndiaye, 2nd Lieutenant and first female Muslim Chaplain candidate in the United States Army in 2024Khady Ndiaye – First female Muslim chaplain candidate[37]
Mark Nordstrom – Anglican chaplain during Operation Iraqi Freedom and bishop in the Anglican Church in North America.
Chaim Potok – Jewish chaplain during the Korean War, author.
Anthony Rey, S.J. – One of two of the Army's first Catholic chaplains. Chaplain during the Mexican–American War and Vice President of Georgetown College (1845). First Catholic chaplain killed during service with the U.S. military.
John Rosbrugh – Chaplain during the Revolutionary War. First U.S. chaplain killed in battle.
Matthew A. Zimmerman Jr. – The 18th Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army from 1990 to 1994 and the first African American to hold the position.
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