Command Support
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Chaplains work for the commander. At every echelon from battalion up, commanders retain the special staff advisor known as the chaplain. The chaplain works for the commander and is the commander's confidential advisor for religious matters, such as issues of religion, ethics, and morale. Further, it is legally the commander's responsibility to ensure the free exercise of the subordinate soldier's faith. However, religious support is personally carried out by the chaplain. The authorization for fund's allocation which assist religious support is through the "Commander's Religious Program" and is funded through multiple channels. Tough decisions. The commander's responsibility affects nearly every aspect of a soldier's life. Thus, tough decisions are faced on a regular basis which may define the course of someone's life. Commander's further make many judgments on what options are legal and what is necessary in a given situation. The discretion to do what is right provides the basis for a professional using experience and training to make a decision. However, tough decisions are "tough" due to the lack of an obvious solution. One commander recognized the decision was not easy based on the mere fact it had reached to his level. Thus, the commander may retain the confidential advisement of a chaplain to secure a secondary view of the situation. While the commander retains the absolute decision, the chaplain may bring some insight from a perspective different from other officers. Chaplains' views are unique because they have different professional training and experiences, and have no command authority.* |
*US Code 10 Sec 3581 |
