Attract, retain chaplains - Army Community - Army Discussions - Army Times

Attract, retain chaplains

This year, some Jewish soldiers will celebrate Hanukkah without a rabbi to preside; some Catholics will go to Christmas services conducted by people who are not priests.

It’s a seasonal illustration of the dreadful shortage of chaplains in today’s Army.

While the Army has done an impressive job of making end strength, its record is less than stellar when it comes to attracting men and women to serve as chaplains.

There are 1,300 Muslims in the Army, but only six Muslim chaplains. Eight Jewish chaplains are expected to tend to 1,800 Jewish soldiers.

The worldwide shortage of Catholic priests is also reflected. There are only 100 Catholic chaplains to minister to 111,000 Catholic soldiers.

As inadequate as those numbers are, experts say the chaplain shortage probably is much worse because some soldiers, for differing reasons, will not disclose their religions.

In today’s battle-stressed Army, chaplains do much more than conduct religious services. They are regularly turned to as advisers and counselors to troops grappling with war experiences, post-traumatic stress, and the loneliness and family strain of deployments.

In some downrange units, the chaplain is the designated first-line mental health “specialist” for stressed-out soldiers.

There are no significant bonuses for joining or staying in the chaplaincy, and that — or any appropriate incentive — is something the Army must give serious consideration.

Chaplains are just as vital to the Army as helicopter pilots, tank drivers, infantrymen or any other soldiers. The Army needs to do a far better job of recruiting and retaining them.