Home of the 15th STB UMT

Our Mission

"What do chaplains do all day?"

A former infantry officer asked me this one. A graduate of West Point, four years in the infantry, plenty of time to run into a chaplain every once in a while, but he hardly ever did. I tried to reassure, almost to the point of making excuses for his former chaplains, so I gave a few details of what occupies the time of the chaplain and chaplain assistants which make up the Unit Ministry Team (UMT). Hopefully, you won't see this section as excuses of what keeps the UMT busy, but rather see it as a place to learn about the guiding principles and distinctive roles of the UMT.

This area encompasses something different from what the Army field manuals and the regulations state. While those documents are valuable in determining specific guidance for the UMT, this site will give some idea as to how or why we, the 15th STB UMT, do certain things. It is not an exhaustive reference, but rather a highlight of principles and methods of our ministry. We intend to be decisive in what is set forth and plan to succeed at every turn. We pray this section helps you understand a little better why we do what we do. God bless and enjoy!

Foundational Understanding

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" Amendment 1, US Constitution   The United States Constitution requires the government to provide for the free exercise of religion for soldiers, their family members and authorized civilians. At first glance, chaplains might seem to be a violation of the "Establishment Clause."¹ However of the two clauses, the Establishment Clause is subject to the Free Exercise Clause.² In other words, when there seems to be a case where the two collide, such as in the chaplaincy, the Free Exercise Clause takes precedent. Thus, there is not allowance for the chaplaincy provided by the Department of Defense, but rather an obligation to ensure the free exercise of religion for those authorized. The chaplain has the responsibility to provide for the free exercise of religion through performing religious rites, sacraments, and ordinances or providing for these when unable to do so out of personal or ecclesiastical limits. Therein lies broadly the chaplain's mission: to perform or provide religious support for authorized personnel.

One guiding principle

In a simple yet profound way, the mission of the UMT to perform or provide religious support can be summarized in a small phrase: nurture the living, care for the dying, and honor the dead. Religious support and all UMT functions fit on this spectrum.

Be sure to visit each section on the left for a more clear breakdown of this UMT's ministry principles. Also, browse to the Support Area to see the mission section in action.