Where We Have Come From

1. Currents U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps: Providing for Our Own Facilitating for Others Caring for All June 7, 2010 Volume 2, Number 6 Where We Have Come From Key Messages  CHC had a strong During a now famous encounter between RADM Burt and the Chief of need to define Naval Operations, ADM Roughead asked, “Based upon requirements, how itself, articulate many chaplains do the Sea Services need?” It seemed like a simple question, its capabilities and but the reality was that we were not equipped to provide the answer. The to visualize where it wanted to go Chaplain Corps quickly found that finding the answer would significantly (define mission change the way in which we were operating. and vision).  We embarked on To answer the CNO’s question we needed to learn a common language and implementing a develop processes for articulating our vision, identifying our requirements, transparent documenting capabilities, defining authorized personnel and their priority for Strategic Planning service, delineating tasks of chaplains at different pay grades, creating a healthy Process to provide community, developing effective structures for delivery of ministry, and a management framework to communicating our value both within and beyond the Chaplain Corps. guide the Chaplain Corps. Now-retired RADM Sonny Masso spoke at our Senior Leadership  We defined our Symposium in San Antonio in February 2007, challenging the Chaplain Corps requirements. directly and indicating that we were on a “burning platform” requiring significant changes in the way we operate. He asked, “What is your mission  We implemented stronger and vision as a Corps? Who are your customers and where are they? How are recruiting, you going to shape your corps strategically? How has your CONOPS changed? accessing, How are you going to adapt new religious ministry paradigms at all levels in training, assigning, order to build towards a cost effective billet base to meet COCOM and force shaping requirements? How are you going to get the positive message of the Corps to practices. the Navy and the nation?”  We are developing and implementing In response to the challenges laid out, the Chaplain Corps committed to a performance measures and proactive course of action. We embarked on implementing a transparent metrics to better Strategic Planning Process to provide a management framework to guide the quantify value and Chaplain Corps. We defined our requirements based on the commander’s control costs. requirements. We implemented stronger recruiting, accessing, training, assigning and force shaping practices backed by clear and consistent processes and procedures. Furthermore, we are developing and implementing performance measures and metrics to better quantify value and control costs. With the accomplishments of the past few years, we have made tremendous strides as a Corps in answering the poignant questions raised by the CNO and RADM Masso. These significant steps have laid a strong foundation for shaping a healthy community of chaplains and RPs and providing the most effective and efficient delivery of religious ministry to our Sea Service Personnel. Vocati Ad Servitium