It is important to note that personnel selected for  the  RP  rating  are  limited  to  performing religious  program  tasks  which  do  not  require ordination  or  licensing.  Even  though  members of  the  rating  are  required  to  support  chaplains and persons of all faith groups, a Religious Pro- gram  Specialist  does  not  conduct  worship  serv- ices, administer sacraments and ordinances, nor function  as  a  pastoral  counselor.  RPs  do  not exercise  any  of  the  ministerial  functions  of  the clergy  or  Navy  chaplains. This   module   provides   information   that   is directly  related  to  certain  occupational  stand- ards  for  RP3  and  RP2.  Module   II   (Logistics Support  and  Financial  Control)  and Module  III (Administration)   provide  information  on  the remainder  of  the  occupational  standards  for RP3 and RP2 not covered in this module. Occu- pational   standards   comprise   the   tasks   that enlisted  personnel  must  accomplish  in  order  to meet   the   Navy’s   requirements.   These   specific occupational   requirements   form   the   basis   for personnel  training,  advancement,  and  distribu- tion.  It  is  important  to  remember  that  occupa- tional  standards  are  MINIMUM  standards representing the LOWEST level of skill that all personnel  must  possess  in  order  to  function effectively at a given rate. Figure 1-2 shows the specific  occupational  standards  for  RP3  and RP2 that will be discussed in this module. Rate  training  manuals  are  revised  periodi- cally  to  conform  with  official  publications, directives,  documents,  and  instructions  on which they are based. RPs should always refer to the  official  sources  in  the  performance  of  their duties.  Rate  training  manuals  (RTMs)  are developed  primarily  to  help  applicants  prepare for  advancement  to  the  next  highest  paygrade. However,  the  personnel  who  prepare  the  fleet- wide examinations for advancement will always use the most recent material in writing examina- tion questions. This is one important reason why the  RP  should  stay  completely  informed  on  any changes  that  occur  in  official  publications. To assist personnel in studying for advance- ment, the Bibliography  for  Advancement  Exam- ination   Study   (NAVEDTRA   10052   series)   is revised  and  issued  each  year  by  the  Chief  of Naval  Education  and  Training.  Figure  1-3 shows   the   front   cover   of   this   publication   for calendar  year  1982.  The  RP  should  check  with the   personnel   in   the   local   command’s   educa- tional   services   office   to   ensure   that   this bibliography is current and readily available for use  in  the  Command  Religious  Program  (CRP). The first several sections of this chapter will be  devoted  to  describing:  the  functions  of  the Chief of Chaplains, the Chaplain Corps, and the chaplain; the history of the RP rating; RP skills and knowledge; the CRP ashore and afloat; and CRP  jargon.  This  background  information  is provided  to  outline  the  evolution  of rating  and  to  show  the  important  role RP  plays  in  today’s  Navy. CHIEF  OF  CHAPLAINS the  RP that the Respect  and  custom  established  the  unoffi- cial  title  “Chief  of  Chaplains”  prior  to  its official  establishment  by  an  Act  of  Congress  on 22 December 1944. Since March 1945, the Navy Chaplain  Corps  has  been  headed  by  a  Chief  of Chaplains  with  the  rank  of  rear  admiral.  Nor- mally,  the  Chief  of  Chaplains  is  selected  from among the rear admirals of the Chaplain Corps on  active  duty  and  is  assigned  to  the  Office  of the  Chief  of  Naval  Operations  (OP-09G)  as  a major  staff  office. NOTE:   The   Chief   of Chaplains  was  formerly  designated  as  OP-01H. An  organization  change  in  the  Office  of  the Chief   of   Naval   Operations   occurred   in November  1981  whereby  the  Office  of  the  Chief of   Chaplains   was   redesignated   as   OP-09G. Specific guidance concerning this reorganization was  provided  in  OPNAVNOTE  5430  dated 23  November  1981.  The  mission  of  the  Chief  of Chaplains  as  outlined  in  OPNAVNOTE  5430  is shown in figure 1-4. THE  CHAPLAIN  CORPS The  purpose  of  the  Navy  Chaplain  Corps  is to  provide  professional  guidance  to  the  Depart- ment  of  the  Navy  and  to  promote  the  spiritual, religious,  moral,  and  personal  well-being  of members of that establishment by providing the ministries appropriate to their rights and needs. This   may   involve   providing   ministries   to dependents   and   other   authorized   individuals. The  chaplain’s  ministries  may  include  conduct- ing  worship  services,  liturgies,  and  rites;  pro- viding   religious education   and   pastoral 1-2