2 U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Foreword ................................................................................................................................ 3

Endorsements......................................................................................................................... 4

Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles .............................................................................. 5

Priorities and Initiatives

Promote ethical and moral behavior throughout the Sea Services ............................. 6

Ensure religious ministry enhances current readiness ................................................. 7

Think strategically for future readiness ........................................................................ 8

Employ Reserve religious ministry assets more effectively .......................................... 8

Realign assets to improve religious ministry for operational forces ........................... 9

Improve recruitment and retention................................................................................ 10

Enhance external and internal communications .......................................................... 11

Leverage technology to support the mission ................................................................. 11

The Chaplain Corps gratefully acknowledges the invaluable support of Denise

Wells and Archester Houston, PhD., from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of

the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Strategic Planning and Analysis.
U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007 3

FOREWORD

The Secretary of the Navy entrusts the leadership of the

Chaplain Corps to the Chief of Chaplains. The Chief of

Chaplains, in turn, exercises this leadership to orient and

direct the Chaplain Corps to fulfill its responsibilities to

the men and women of the Sea Services.

This Strategic Plan links today’s Chaplain Corps with a

Chaplain Corps that has, since its inception in 1775,

ensured the Constitutional right to free exercise of religion for Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard personnel, their

family members and other authorized persons.

The purpose of this Strategic Plan is to strengthen our

Corps by systematically preparing for the future. It

serves as our compass to guide us in the years ahead.

The plan in these pages is a living “work-in-progress”—adaptable to emerging realities,

and requiring periodic updates to its priorities and initiatives. It grew out of consultation

with chaplains, Religious Program Specialists, military leaders and hundreds of the Sea

Services people whom we are privileged to serve.

The success of this plan depends on divine guidance, prayer, mutual support, and faithfulness in our ministry and staff work.

Barry C. Black

RADM, CHC, USN

Chief of Chaplains/Director

Religious Ministry Support

Louis V. Iasiello

RDML, CHC, USN

Deputy Chief of Chaplains/

Chaplain of the Marine Corps

Darold F. Bigger

RDML, CHC, USNR

Deputy Chief of

Chaplains for Total Force

The Honorable Gordon R. England
4 U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007

SENIOR LEADERS’ ENDORSEMENTS

Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists are deployed with our

men and women as joint operating forces wherever we are called

upon to resolve conflict, build and sustain multilateral security

cooperation and interoperability with our regional partners, or

provide humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and crisis response.

This strategic plan aligns with my vision of quality people, trained,

equipped and ready for Joint Operations. I commend the members

of the Chaplain Corps for their indispensable service and selfless

dedication in bringing important religious ministry to our joint

forces throughout the globe.

General Henry H. Shelton, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

I am pleased to endorse the Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan because it

epitomizes a commitment to delivering the highest quality Total

Force ministry anywhere, anytime, and anyplace.

Vice Admiral John B. Totushek, Chief of Naval Reserve

The Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan has earned my strongest endorsement. Your Corps’ priorities and initiatives support Marine Corps

emphasis on making Marines, operational readiness, inspirational

leadership, and character development. With your spiritual leadership and devotion to ministry we will achieve our goal: to be

America’s Twenty-First Century Force of Choice! Semper Fidelis.

General James L. Jones, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps

The Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan fully supports the Navy’s top five

priorities of Manpower, Current Readiness, Future Readiness,

Quality of Service and Alignment. I applaud the Chaplain Corps for

your vision and commend you for your efforts to improve global

access to religious ministry support for our Sailors and families.

Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations

Like the Coast Guard, the Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan ensures the

Chaplain Corps is ready today and preparing for tomorrow. I am

grateful for your devoted service to the men and women who pledge

to the American people that they shall forever be “Semper Paratus.”

Admiral James Loy, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007 5

VISION STATEMENT

Devoted to God and Country, we unite to deliver innovative, life-transforming

service throughout and beyond the Sea Services.

MISSION STATEMENT

As members of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps we:

y ADVISE commanders to ensure the free exercise of religion;

y PROVIDE religious ministry and support to authorized personnel;

y ADVOCATE for and promote the well-being of all personnel; and

y SERVE as command liaison to civilian religious leaders, communities,

organizations and agencies.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• We are faithful to our individual religious traditions and practices.

• We respect the right of others to hold spiritual beliefs and religious practices

different from our own.

• We cooperate and collaborate in ministry.

• We are committed to the highest standards of morality and personal integrity.

• We are committed to professionalism in the performance of duty.
6 U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007

PRIORITIES and INITIATIVES

The Priorities summarize the changes required to move the Chaplain Corps toward the

fulfillment of our vision. The Initiatives explain how we plan to attain the priority.

PRIORITY ONE

Promote ethical and moral behavior throughout the Sea Services.

Initiatives

1.1 Train chaplains to serve as ethical, moral

 and spiritual advisors to the command.

1.2 Extend training in ethics across the full

 spectrum of chaplains’ professional development.

1.3 Revalidate ethics P-coded billets to ensure

 optimal usage.

1.4 Design and establish an Ethics Advisory Board at major echelons of command.

Lead Agent: Director, Training and Education (N977)

Completion Date: September 2006
U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007 7

PRIORITY TWO

Ensure religious ministry enhances current readiness.

Initiatives

2.1 Promote spiritual growth to enhance operational readiness

throughout the Sea Services.

2.2 Strengthen the Chaplains’ impact on unit morale, cohesion

and readiness.

2.3 Train chaplains and Religious Program Specialists in Joint

and other specialized operations.

2.4 Develop and emphasize chaplain expertise in world religions, statecraft and cultural

awareness.

2.5 Educate personnel on the significance of religious and cultural practices.

2.6 Define core elements of ministry for inspections and accountability.

2.7 Develop appropriate metrics for religious ministry.

2.8 Enhance the culture of cooperation and collaboration within the Navy Chaplain

Corps.

2.9 Improve interservice chaplaincy cooperation and collaboration.

Lead Agent: Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard (G-CH)

Completion Date: March 2003
8 U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007

PRIORITY THREE

Think strategically for future readiness.

Initiatives

3.1 Participate in Sea Services’ strategic thinking processes.

3.2 Align the Chaplain Corps with the Navy

 manpower structure based on identified ministry

 requirements.

3.3 Design and implement pastoral care programs in support of future readiness.

3.4 Develop strategies to expand the role of CREDO.

3.5 Review and refine appropriate professional paths for

 chaplains and Religious Program Specialists to meet

 future requirements.

Lead Agent: Director, Plans, Policy, and Operations (N973)

Completion Date: March 2004

PRIORITY FOUR

Employ Reserve religious ministry assets more

effectively.

Initiatives

4.1 Improve the management of Reserve manpower, personnel

 and distribution requirements.

4.2 Improve accessions and raise retention rates for Reserve Religious Program

 Specialists.

4.3 Identify and standardize administrative and training requirements for chaplains and

 Religious Program Specialists in the Ready Reserve.

4.4 Identify requirements for Active Duty for Training, and Active Duty

 for Special Work days for operational support.

4.5 Improve employment of Reserve religious ministry personnel.

4.6 Enhance religious ministry with Voluntary Training Unit

 chaplains and Religious Program Specialists.

Lead Agent: Commander Naval Reserve Force Chaplain (N01G)

Completion Date: September 2005
U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007 9

PRIORITY FIVE

Realign assets to improve religious ministry

for operational forces.

Initiatives

5.1 Identify chaplain and Religious Program Specialist

requirements for expeditionary billets.

5.2 Identify chaplain and Religious Program Specialist

requirements to support family readiness.

5.3 Advocate for personnel’s quality of life, safety, health,

and living and working conditions.

5.4 Increase religious ministry to training and education

commands.

5.5 Increase chaplain and Religious Program Specialist participation in established

mentorship programs.

Lead Agent: Deputy Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps

Completion Date: December 2002
10 U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007

PRIORITY SIX

Improve recruitment and retention.

Initiatives

6.1 Assist Sea Services recruitment and retention efforts.

6.2 Review and assess Chaplain Corps manpower policies.

6.3 Restructure Chaplain Accession and Recall Eligibility Board (CARE) policies and

 procedures.

6.4 Bolster the Chaplain Candidate Program Officer (CCPO) program for recruiting.

6.5 Improve the employment and professional development of Religious Program

 Specialists.

Lead Agent: Director: Manpower, Community Management and Reserve Affairs (N971)

Completion Date: September 2003
U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Strategic Plan 2001 to 2007 11

PRIORITY SEVEN

Enhance external and internal communications..

Initiatives

7.1 Develop and implement public affairs strategies at all

levels.

7.2 Develop and implement internal communications

strategies at all levels.

Lead Agent: Executive Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains (N097A)

Completion Date: September 2006

PRIORITY EIGHT

Leverage technology to support the mission.

 Initiatives

8.1 Expand opportunities for Sea Services personnel

 to access religious information and spiritual

 resources using the latest cutting-edge technology.

8.2 Develop, maintain and distribute new technologies

 and programs to improve the delivery of religious

 ministry.

8.3 Test and evaluate new technologies.

8.4 Implement processes to increase productivity, reduce costs, report and track religious

ministry metrics.

Lead Agent: Head, Chaplain Resource Branch

Completion Date: September 2007

Navy Integrated Call Center

1-877-4-1-TOUCH

Ministry Website

http://www.ChaplainCare.navy.mil

Chaplain Corps Website

https://www.chaplain.navy.mil
“Devoted to God and Country, we

unite to deliver innovative, lifetransforming service throughout

and beyond the Sea Services.”