KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Sailors and Soldiers celebrated the 31st anniversary of the religious program specialist rating at a ceremony held on Jan. 16 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
During the ceremony Chief Religious Program Specialist Alan Grow, 30th Naval Construction Regiment, highlighted the advancements of the religious program specialist rating over the past year.
"This is was the first year for the RP rating under the career field of community and social services/directors of religious activities and education instead of the administration career field," said Grow. "In January 2010 RP 'A' school will be relocated to Fort Jackson, S.C. where RPs will train in the same school house as Air Force and Army chaplain assistants. Chaplain Basic Course and RP 'A' school students will train together before going on to the Fleet or Fleet Marine Force as a religious ministries team."
The second speaker during the ceremony was Religious Program Specialist 3rd Class Detrick Robertson, the most junior religious program specialist at KAF.
"I believe it is a calling, a calling to support Marines and Sailors with their religious beliefs. [We] impact lives by providing and supporting religious worship," said Robertson about his service as an RP. "It is our sincerest hope that we not only support our Marines and Sailors, but we also leave our fingerprints upon their lives to make the [Naval] combat team more proficient."