are assigned to various Marine Corps commands
worldwide. In fact, the Marine Corps claimancy is the
largest major claimant within the Chaplain Corps. It
consists of many active duty chaplains, reserve
chaplains, RPs, and Marine Corps chaplains’ assistants.
Over 20 percent of the Navy’s chaplain and RP billets
are within the Marine Corps claimancy. If you are
assigned to the Marine Corps, you must be prepared to
understand the requirements, traditions, customs, and
language of this armed service. Figure 2 contains some
ACE (aviation combat element)
BLT (battalion landing team)
CAO (civilian affairs officer)
CP (command post)
CSS (combat service support)
CSSE (combat service support element)
FMF (Fleet Marine Force)
FMFLANT (Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic)
FMFPAC (Fleet Marine Force, Pacific)
FMSS (Field Medical Services School)
FSC (Federal Supply Classification)
FSSG (force service support group)
GCE (ground combat element)
MACG (marine air control group)
MAG (marine aircraft group)
MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force)
MAW (marine aircraft wing)
MEB (marine expeditionary brigade)
MEF (marine expeditionary force)
MEU (marine expeditionary unit)
MOS (military occupational specialty)
MWSG (marine wing support group)
SOI (School of Infantry)
SOP (standard operating procedure)
SRI (surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence)
T/E (table of equipment)
T/O (table of organization)
Figure 2.—Significant Marine Corps acronyms.
of the most significant Marine Corps acronyms.
Remember, these acronyms are unique to the Marine
Corps. If you are assigned to the Marine Corps, you
must be able to recognize and use these acronyms.
U.S. NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS
The U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps promotes spiritual,
religious, moral, and personal well-being through
ministry to naval personnel, their family members, and
other authorized individuals.
The CRP is the vehicle through which the
commanding officer/commander provides for the free
exercise of religion for authorized personnel of all
faiths. As mentioned earlier, elements of the CRP can
include divine services, sacraments, ordinances, rites
and ceremonies, outreach programs, pastoral care and
counseling, spiritual growth, and religious education.
U.S. Navy chaplains manage this program as staff
m e m b e r s o n b e h a l f o f t h e c o m m a n d i n g
officer/commander who ultimately has responsibility
under Navy Regulations for making sure personnel
assigned to his or her command have their needs and
free exercise of religion met.
The fundamental role of the RPs is to help provide
logistics support that the Chaplain Corps needs to
provide quality ministry to service members in the Navy.
Chief of Chaplains
The Chief of Chaplains wears three hats: (1) Chief
of Chaplains, (2) Senior Chaplain of the Navy, and (3)
Director of Religious Ministries. As the Director of
Religious Ministries, the Chief of Chaplains directs,
administers, and manages the Navy Chaplain Corps,
implements religious ministries to meet the needs of
personnel in the naval service and their families in the
pursuit of free exercise of religion. As Senior Chaplain
of the Department of the Navy, the Chief of Chaplains
(N097) serves as an advisor to the Chief of Naval
Operations (CNO) on religious, spiritual, moral, and
ethical implications of policies and actions of the
Department of the Navy. Because the Chief of
Chaplains is not a resource sponsor, this position owns
no billets, chaplain or otherwise.
Major Claimant Staff Chaplains
Major claimant staff chaplains are senior chaplains
of major manpower claimants such as the CNO,
Commandant of the Marine Corps, Commander in
Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, or Commander in Chief
xii
