FM 1-05 - Religious Support

Question 1

What is the mission of the Army Chaplain Corps?

Answer 1

To provide religious support to the Army across unified land operations by assisting the commander in providing for the free exercise of religion and providing religious, moral, and ethical leadership.

Question 2

What are the three core competencies of religious support?

Answer 2

Nurture the living.
Care for the wounded.
Honor the dead.

Question 3

What is the Commanders responsibility in providing religious support to the Army?

Answer 3

Commanders provide for the free exercise of religion for Soldiers, families, and authorized civilians and enable religious support functions as prescribed in Army regulations.

Question 4

When does the Army accommodates religious practices?

Answer 4

When such accommodations do not impede military readiness or hinder unit cohesion, standards, health, safety or discipline. Accommodating religious practices is weighed against military necessity and not guaranteed at all times.

Question 5

At every echelon of the force, the chaplaincy is the Army’s primary agency for ensuring the right to free exercise of religion for Soldiers on behalf of the commander. Based upon the requirements of the operational mission, what is included as a Soldier right?

Answer 5

1. Worshipping according to one’s faith.
2. Seeking religious counsel and care.
3. Keeping holy days and observances.
4. Participating in rites, sacraments, and ordinances.
5. Practicing dietary laws.

Question 6

Chaplains and chaplain assistants plan, prepare, execute and assess religious support in support of unified land operations. In its planning process, a chaplain section or UMT plans for three categories of religious support for the Army. What are the three categories of religious support?

Answer 6

1. Unit support. This covers the unit to which the chaplain and chaplain assistant are assigned or attached and is normally the first priority of support.
2. Area support. This covers Soldiers, members of the joint force, and authorized civilians who are not a part of the assigned unit, but who operate within that unit’s area of operations.
3. Denominational or distinctive faith group support. This covers Soldiers and other authorized persons of the chaplain’s denomination.

Question 7

Why must chaplains and chaplain assistants be both adaptable and flexible?

Answer 7

These attributes remain a requirement since operational environments continue to be complex and uncertain, executed over extended distances in difficult terrain, and marked by rapid change and a wide variety of threats.