THE ROLE OF THE RP IN THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES

l Administration l Logistics The extent of your responsibilities for each of these areas will depend on your particular duty station, the chaplain to whom you are assigned, and the comprehensiveness and requirements of your command’s CRP. Let’s take a brief look at some of these variables. DUTY STATIONS In addition to a wide variety of sea and shore duty assignments, the Navy assigns RPs to the following duty stations: Staff commands—where the chaplain has a ministry of presence and the command supports a specific command mission Naval mobile construction battalions—where, in addition to a pastoral ministry, RPs are in mobilization units Overseas commands-where, in addition to a pastoral ministry, RPs program and have a greater involvement in community activities In addition to duty stations, RPs may also be assigned to special assignments, even those outside their rating. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS As an RP, you may be assigned to or request an activity that is essentially outside the more common areas of your rating. Some of these special assignments may include the following jobs: l l l l l Instructor Recruit company commander Equal opportunity specialist Command master chief Recruiter If you should ever wish to choose an assignment outside your rating program, you should work closely with your command career counselor and the RP detailer. THE ROLE OF THE RP IN THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES As well as being aware of your duties and responsibilities as an RP, you should also be aware of the role of your rating within the structure of the Navy and the other armed forces. For example, one military tradition you must understand is the enlisted and officer personnel structure. You will learn much of this information in your study of naval standards. UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS Because a significant number of the Navy’s RPs are assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps, you must understand the role of the RPs who serve in this branch of the U.S. Armed Services. If you should be ordered to serve in the Marine Corps, you must have an overview of what to expect. The Marine Corps provides special training to the RPs who are assigned to serve in their units. Both Navy RPs and Marine Corps administrative clerks with MOS 0151 receive special training through service schools. Both male and female RPs in paygrades E-1 through E-4 who are assigned to report to Marine Corps units must first complete special training at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. The male RPs are required to attend the School of Infantry (SOI); the female RPs must attend the basic combat skills training at the Field Medical Service School. Both male and female RPs in paygrade E-5 are required to attend local resident noncommissioned officer (NCO) schools at Marine Corps-wide facilities. Both male and female RPs in paygrades E-6 and E-7 must attend the assigned level courses at a regional staff noncommissioned officer (SNCO) course school. Upon receipt of Marine Corps orders, all male and female RPs in paygrades E-5 through E-9 must complete the prescribed nonresident Marine Corps Institute (MCI) courses coordinated through Marine Corps Headquarters. The Geneva Convention classifies chaplains, medical doctors, hospital corpsmen, and dental technicians as noncombatants. Unlike chaplains, RPs bear arms and are classified as combatants. In combat situations, the RP serving in the Marine Corps will likely be assigned as the chaplain’s bodyguard, allowing the chaplain to minister to the wounded and dying. The Marine Corps superstructure consists of land combat, security, and service forces, including Marine Corps aviation and the Marine Corps Reserve. The Marine Corps incorporates the following three principal subdivisions: 1. 2. 3. Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Operating Forces Marine Corps Support Establishment (including the Marine Corps Reserve Establishment) Among the significant numbers of Navy personnel assigned to the Marine Corps, Navy chaplains and RPs xi