in obtaining such musicial talent as might be
found in their respective units. Such assistance
often had to be obtained from outside sources.
The Navy Department inaugurated a new
rating structure on 1 April 1948. Among the new
general service ratings that were established was
the rating of’ “Personnel Men.” Members of this
rating were assigned personnel administration
duties in various offices including the chaplain’s
office. Personnel of this rating who had a job
classification as chaplain’s assistant could be
assigned duty with chaplains.
YEOMAN CHAPLAIN’S PROFESSIONAL
ASSISTANT (YN-252S)
Until 1979, personnel of the Yeoman rating
were often designated as the “Chaplain’s Clerk
(YN-2525)” to assist the chaplain in conducting
the Command Religious Program. Figure II-1-6
describes the duties of the YN-2525 Chaplain’s
Professional Assistant designation.
Chaplains had to justify the need for a
YN-2525 billet before a Yeoman would normally
be assigned to the office of the chaplain. This
proved to be a time-consuming process and
placed the CRP in direct competition with other
command departments for the services of per-
sonnel. Often unqualified personnel (those lack-
ing the YN-2525 designation) were assigned to
the office of the chaplain as temporary solutions
to manning problems.
Many of the individuals who worked in the
office of the chaplain, those with the YN-2525
designation and those without this designation,
performed admirably under difficult cir-
cumstances. However, the pursuit of a perma-
nent rating to assist the chaplain in managing the
Command Religious
Program remained a
primary goal of the Chief of Chaplains.
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS
The 101-year quest for a permanent
chaplain’s assistant rating was finally realized on
15 January 1979 when the Secretary of the Navy
approved the establishment of the Religious
Program Specialist (RP) rating. Stringent selec-
tion requirements were set and personnel re-
questing lateral conversion from one rate to the
RP rating had to be interviewed and recom-
mended by a Navy chaplain. After the chaplain
recommended an individual for the RP rating,
the commanding officer also had to recommend
the applicant. Personnel requesting conversion
to RP had to be a high school graduate or have a
GED equivalent;
be eligible for access to
classified information; demonstrate support of
the Navy’s equal opportunity program; have no
speech impediments and have demonstrated the
ability to write effectively; have no conviction in
civilian or military court within the past 3 years;
and, be willing to support persons of all faith
groups. These requirements have not changed
since the establishment of the rate. It is obvious
that a person must be trustworthy, dedicated,
and quite conscientious in order to serve as a
Religious Program Specialist.
YN-2525 DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
YN-2525 Chaplain’s Professional Assistant
Assists Chaplain by promoting the religious program and performing administrative duties.
Prepares correspondence, requisitions, purchase orders, reports, and religious documents. Main-
tains material, fund, and interview records. Publishes schedules of services and programs.
Schedules chaplain appointments and keeps log of events. Operates office and audiovisual equip-
ment. Protects privileged communications. Maintains chapel equipment and supplies. Supervises
rigging according to designed liturgical practice. Follows the liturgical calendar and uses ec-
clesiastical titles and terms.
Figure II-1-6.—Description of Duties for Chaplain’s Professional Assistant (YN-2525).
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