programs.  No  volunteer  program,  however  well planned, developed, and installed, will be successful unless it has the active support and participation of command chaplains. A rubber-stamp approval is not sufficient.  Chaplains  must  understand  the  purpose  of the  volunteer  program,  how  it  functions,  and  the necessity for the program, and they must believe that the results  of  a  comprehensive  volunteer  program  will  be for  the  betterment  of  the  entire  community. OUTREACH Outreach programs are elements and patterns of progressive religious marketing. Outreach programs develop  from  research  based  on  the  needs  of  the community. While the worship, religious education, pastoral  care  and  counseling,  fellowship,  and  other functions of the RMF will stand on their own, chaplains and command religious programs (CRPs) will set up outreach programs to supplement their efforts to provide quality programs that will enhance the lives of those they  serve. Unlike  the  other  religious  programs,  outreach programs are basically time-oriented programs; that is, they  are  presented  at  given  intervals  and  will  usually have a known beginning and ending date. An outreach program  can  be  thought  of  as  an  extended  hand,  a planned preventive maintenance plan, or even a form of preventive medicine. Consider the meaning of outreach programs as delineated in the following quotation: “As  chaplains  in  a  pluralistic  sea  service environment, we need to interpret outreach in the  broadest  possible  terms.  Outreach  has many  facets  and  meanings.  Outreach  is spiritual renewal; it is healing; it is genuine care-giving;  it  is  community  service;  it  is having   an   influence   on   command   and community. We have a great opportunity to reach out to sea service   members   and   their   families.   To understand  and  meet  the  spiritual  needs  of  our people, we must listen to them, expand our vision of the future, and try new paradgms to touch the lives of those entrusted to our care.” Rear Admiral David E. White Chief  of  Chaplains As outreach programs become increasingly market oriented, most RMFs will tend to set up programs that focus  on groups. meeting the needs of particular persons or Most  outreach  programs  are  geared  to  a particular public, such as children, youth groups, single parents,  married  persons,  the  aged,  or  to  entire communities, such as the homeless, poor, and orphans. Outreach is used when each of these groups is suitably set apart from the others and is believably large enough to  support  special,  structured  care. The  integration  of  outreach  programs  into  a  CRP starts with a state of the mind on the part of the chaplains and RPs. In these programs, the chaplains and RPs will make the recipients the constant focal point for all basic planning and decision making. As an RP, you should treat each outreach program as if it were a marketing business. To do this, you must be  market  oriented.  In  planning  any  outreach  program, take the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Determine  your  objectives. Research  the  need. Look  into  similar  programs  by  others,  both military and civilian. Establish guiding policies. Prepare by diagraming productions. Prepare  budgets  and  financial  considerations, involving advertising and promotion, product development,  research,  and  the  like. Evaluate  performance. Let’s take a brief look at each of these steps. OBJECTIVES In planning your CRP’s outreach program, begin with a team spirit and set broad objectives. First, define your customers’ needs. Next, look at existing or similar programs.  After  you  examine  these  programs,  establish the  techniques  and  procedures  that  will  work  best  for you.  Remember  to  weigh  the  economic  factors,  the service factors, and the product factors. RESEARCH The  fundamentals  of  performing  outreach marketing   research   are   gathering,   ordering,   and evaluating  the  facts. The  primary  purpose  of  your research  will  be  to  solve  or  forestall  problems.  By performing research, you can increase the efficiency of your efforts by developing, selecting, and improving on the most effective program and marketing methods. In developing  your  outreach  research  methods,  you  must understand the problem to be researched, establish 2-19