NCSC Graduates Last Chaplain Class at Fort Jackson

Naval Education and Training Command
Courtesy Story

Date: 12.13.2018
Posted: 12.14.2018 10:06
News ID: 303588
NCSC Graduates Last Chaplain Class at Fort Jackson

By Cmdr. Leroy C. Young, Naval Chaplaincy School and Center Public Affairs

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- The Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) conducted its final Basic Leadership Course (BLC) graduation at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Dec. 13, before its relocation to Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.

NCSC moved to Fort Jackson as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, consolidating both chaplains and religious program specialists (RP) training at the same location. Since then, NCSC has evolved into a headquarters that develops and delivers religious ministry training to achieve fleet readiness both in traditional classrooms settings and through mobile training teams at 12 worldwide locations.

“Each BLC class is enhanced and improved upon the last, and I have a tremendous sense of gratitude to those classes that preceded us here at Fort Jackson and laid the foundation for our success,” said Lt. j.g. Bradley Lawrence, a Roman Catholic priest assigned to Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan.

The 21 BLC graduates were grateful for their experience at Fort Jackson, in particular, the comprehensive training and the expertise of the instructors.

“My experience at Fort Jackson was invaluable,” said Lt. j.g. Brandon Kenyon, a Southern Baptist chaplain assigned to Naval Base Ventura County, California. “To be the last class at Fort Jackson means we get to take part in not only the end of something great, but the beginning of the future in the Navy Chaplain Corps.”

Senior officials believe that the move to Rhode Island will benefit NCSC through closer ties with all the other naval training commands at Newport.

“Newport is in the midst of a Navy culture,” said Rear Adm. Brent Scott, chief of Navy chaplains. “When you are training new chaplains and you are orienting them to the sea services, the culture matters. Every service has its own cultural language and tradition.”

RP “A” School will convene at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi through a NCSC Learning Site Meridian in February 2019. All chaplain training courses, along with the mid-level RP Managers course, will return to its former home at Naval Station Newport with the first class convening in March 2019. These relocations will enable new officer and enlisted personnel to develop as leaders and Sailors alongside their Navy counterparts.

“Fort Jackson has been a wonderful place for us to take the next steps as Navy chaplains,” said Lt. j.g. Chandler Whitman, Episcopal priest assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “While we are excited for the move to Newport, we are thankful to have trained in South Carolina.”

Chaplains and RPs play a critical role in helping the Department of the Navy achieve and maintain a ready force. Religious ministry and compassionate pastoral care are characterized by cooperation, tolerance, mutual respect, and respect for diversity, as well as an emphasis on understanding the pluralistic military environment. Chaplains and RPs are embedded within commands operating at sea and ashore to ensure 24/7 availability for service members and their families.

For more news from the Chaplain Corps, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/crb/.

For more information on NCSC, visit https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/centers/chaplain/Default.aspx.

For more information about NETC, visit the command’s website at https://www.public.navy.mil/netc or www.navy.mil/local/cnet/ and follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/netcpao.