ADVISORY ROLE OF CHAPLAINS

and continuity in such religious education are made difficult by frequent transfers of military families. The various and unique denomina- tional requirements also influence the religious education programs that are provided for dependent children of military personnel. For these reasons, the Navy, Army, and Air Force Departments make available religious education curricula and materials which are designed especially for military religious education pro- grams. The curriculum for dependent children at Navy and Marine Corps shore activities is usually selected from the following three resource guides: Cooperative Protestant Religious Educa- tion Curriculum Catholic Curriculum and Resource Guide (Roman Catholic) Unified Jewish Religious Education Cur- riculum The materials described in these resource guides are selected from publishing houses supervised by members of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. The RP will probably be tasked by the command chaplain to obtain material from these three sources in order to provide a stand- ardized religious education program for com- mand personnel and their dependents. In addition, RPs maybe tasked to solicit volunteers to teach the standardized curriculum to depend- ent children. This responsibility will require the RP to instruct volunteers in Religious Education (RE) methods and the use of religious education material. RELIGIOUS LITERATURE The command usually has a supply of religious literature in book and pamphlet form available for use by its personnel. Pamphlet racks containing such literature are likely to be found at the entrance to the chapel, in the office of the chaplain, and at other covenient loca- tions. Many stations also have libraries with sec- tions devoted to religious books and novels. COMMAND CHAPLAIN The ranking (senior) chaplain is normally designated as the command chaplain where more than one chaplain is assigned to a command. Besides advising the command on matters pertaining to religion and morale, the command chaplain supervises the ministries of all other chaplains assigned to the unit. Also, the command chaplain performs duties similar to a department head or division officer in relation to managing RPs and other enlisted personnel who are assigned to the office of the chaplain. ADVISORY ROLE OF CHAPLAINS The chaplain is a key officer in promoting the religious and general well-being of command personnel as an advisor to the commanding officer on religious and morale matters. Col- lateral duties are properly confined to the field of religion and morale so as not to interfere with the primary duties of the chaplain. An example of an appropriate collateral duty is the respon- sibility to furnish the commanding officer with information to assist in paying proper respect to the religious institutions and customs of various foreign countries. Command chaplains need to be informed concerning local religious beliefs and value systems in order to perform this highly important collateral duty. The RP may be tasked by the chaplain to gather information about the religious beliefs of a particular country in order to lend support in determining the proper respect that needs to be rendered. PASTORAL COUNSELING The chaplain is concerned with the well- being of all command personnel and their families and is available to counsel and advise individuals on religious, personal, and morale matters as well as other areas of concern. In the performance of their duties, chaplains assist per- sonnel and their families in time of bereavement, domestic crisis, and on occasions when religious guidance is requested. To enhance the Com- mand Religious Program, chaplains normally maintain liaision with community, social, religious, health, and welfare agencies. These sources are made available to military families 1-16