‘‘(A) satisfies the professional qualifica-
tions of the chaplain’s religious-endorsing orga-
nization and the educational requirements of 
the Department of Defense and the commis-
sioning Armed Service; and 
‘‘(B) is appointed as both an officer in the 
Chaplain Corps of the Armed Services and a 
representative of the chaplain’s religious-endors-
ing organization to which the chaplain remains 
accountable for providing religious ministry to 
the Armed Services. 
‘‘(4) CONFIDENTIAL, SACRAMENTAL, AND PRIV-
ILEGED COMMUNICATIONS.—The term ‘confidential, 
sacramental, and privileged communications’ means 
private communications made during either religious 
sacraments or religious practice, which are protected 
from being disclosed unless the individual gives the 
chaplain express permission. 
‘‘(5) RELIGIOUS-ENDORSING ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘religious-endorsing organization’ means 
an entity that— 
‘‘(A) is organized and functions primarily 
to perform religious ministries to non-military 
lay members and meets the requirements of the 
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Department of Defense and the commissioning 
Armed Service; and 
‘‘(B) possesses ecclesiastical authority to 
endorse and withdraw endorsement for chap-
lains serving under the authority of such entity 
to conduct religious observances or ceremonies 
in a military context.’’. 
(c) AIR FORCE.— 
(1) CHAPLAIN
CORPS
AND
CHIEF
OF
CHAP-
LAINS.—Section 9039 of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) The Chief of Chaplains shall serve as an adviser 
to the Secretary of the Air Force. 
‘‘(e) The Air Force Chaplaincy, which also services 
the Space Force, shall provide the following and shall be 
overseen by the Office of the Chief of Chaplains: 
‘‘(1) Advise and assist commanders in dis-
charging their responsibilities to provide free exer-
cise of religion in military service, pursuant to the 
First Amendment of the United States Constitution, 
section 2000bb–1 of title 42, United States Code, 
and related statutes and policies. 
‘‘(2) Serve as principal advisers to commanders 
on all issues concerning religious practices, spiritual 
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readiness, religious provisions and religion’s influ-
ence on military operations. 
‘‘(3) Assist commanders in managing religious 
affairs, including the accommodation of religious 
practices and the development of policies and proce-
dures related to the free exercise of religion. 
‘‘(4) Oversee education and training programs 
concerning the accommodation of religious practices 
for service members. 
‘‘(5) Provide guidance on the qualifications and 
requirements for religious-endorsing organizations 
submitting candidates for military chaplaincy. 
‘‘(6) Evaluate requests for the accommodation 
of religious practices and advise commanders on 
their approval or denial. 
‘‘(7) Advise and assist commanders in address-
ing crisis and suicide prevention initiatives.’’. 
(2) CHAPLAINS.—Section 9217 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 9217. Duties, responsibilities, requirements, and 
protections for chaplains in the Air Force 
and Space Force 
‘‘(a) DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES
AND
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
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‘‘(1) A chaplain in the Air Force and Space 
Force shall do the following: 
‘‘(A) Meet the religious requirements and 
care for the spiritual needs of service members, 
other authorized persons and their dependents. 
‘‘(B) Assist Armed Services Commanders 
by serving as an adviser to all religious accom-
modation requests and by providing advice on 
spiritual readiness, and matters concerning reli-
gion, morals, ethics, well-being, and morale. 
‘‘(C) Have a primary role in providing for 
the free exercise of religion and other religious 
requirements associated with the free exercise 
of religion. 
‘‘(D) Personally meet the religious require-
ments of persons in their assigned military 
units, potentially in isolated or combat environ-
ments. 
‘‘(E) Conduct religious ministry activities 
consistent with the tenets of their religious-en-
dorsing organizations. 
‘‘(F) Advise Combatant Commands, com-
manding officers, and organizations, as appro-
priate, on religion, morals, ethics, well-being, 
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morale, and spiritual readiness in the unit, in-
cluding religion’s impact on military operations. 
‘‘(G) Facilitate meeting the religious needs 
and requirements for those persons to whom 
they cannot directly minister. 
‘‘(H) Maintain confidentiality of privileged 
communications. 
‘‘(2) In carrying out subparagraph (G) of para-
graph (1), a chaplain in the Air Force and Space 
Force may do the following: 
‘‘(A) Connect the person with a different 
chaplain, or a chaplain of the person’s faith, 
who can directly provide for their needs. 
‘‘(B) Equip the person with the tools or 
materials necessary to meet their own needs. 
‘‘(C) Coordinate the appointment of faith 
group-specific religious lay leaders. 
‘‘(D) Offer information on how to draw 
from local, civilian, or other resources. 
‘‘(3) The tasks of a chaplain in the Air Force 
and Space Force may include, but are not limited to, 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Performing rites, rituals, ordinances, 
and ceremonies. 
‘‘(B) Visiting workspaces. 
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