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NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN - Navy chaplains have always been a critical part of both the Navy and Marine Corps. Now, after many years of selfless dedication to service members of the American armed forces, the Chaplains Corps will be celebrating their 244th anniversary.
From the time the Navy Chaplains Corps was first established by the Second Continental Congress on Nov. 28, 1775, chaplains have worked tirelessly to serve the spiritual needs of service members and their families.
“The 244th anniversary of the Navy Chaplain Corps is a time to reflect on both a rich heritage and the ability to facilitate spiritual fitness for all persons within the Department of Defense,” said LCDR Glen D. Kitzman, a chaplain assigned to Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. “It is a great honor to help others engage faith and religion.”
Chaplains have filled a myriad of roles including performing religious services, providing pastoral support, and confidential counseling to leading weddings, funerals, and memorial services.
“You can compare a chaplain to a Swiss Army Knife”, in the sense that we are called to execute many different functions, and expected to do them with full confidence and competence,” said Kitzman, “We are commissioned naval officers expected to uphold all officer requirements, yet we are also chaplains who answer to a Religious Endorsing Agency who provide religious credentials to serve within the Department of Defense.”
With all the roles and responsibilities they must fulfill, the process to becoming a Navy chaplain is a highly demanding one.
“It was an arduous process and took me a lot of time,” said Kitzman. “However, there has been no more rewarding a calling on my life than to serve alongside our armed forces, whether that be at sea, on shore, deployed, or in garrison. Serving as a chaplain has been a tremendous challenge, yet the greatest joy of my life.”
Navy chaplains have been included in every major battle and conflict since the Chaplains Corps was founded.
| Date Taken: | 11.28.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.28.2019 22:49 |
| Story ID: | 353900 |
| Location: | MANAMA, BH |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Chaplains Corps Celebrates 244 Years of Service, by SSgt Anne Henry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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