Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of the military. They fulfill the commander's responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of service members and their families and provide advice in matters pertaining to religion, morals, and morale.

Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of the military. They fulfill the commander's responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of service members and their families and provide advice in matters pertaining to religion, morals, and morale.

Depending on the branch of Service, UMT (Army), RMT (Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard), and RST (Air Force), refer to a team consisting of at least one chaplain and at least one chaplain assistant (in the Army and Air Force) or religious program specialist (in the Marine Corps, Navy, or Coast Guard). Chaplains are commissioned officers and chaplain assistants and religious program specialists are enlisted personnel.

Depending on the branch of Service, UMT (Army), RMT (Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard), and RST (Air Force), refer to a team consisting of at least one chaplain and at least one chaplain assistant (in the Army and Air Force) or religious program specialist (in the Marine Corps, Navy, or Coast Guard). Chaplains are commissioned officers and chaplain assistants and religious program specialists are enlisted personnel.

These teams perform a variety of functions. The main duties of chaplains (with support from chaplain assistants or religious program specialists) include the following:

• Conduct worship and administer sacraments. Chaplains are responsible for ensuring that service members have the opportunity to worship in the manner in which they choose. This means that chaplains conduct worship services and administer sacraments in the manner in which they are accustomed, and that they also seek out accommodations for persons of other faiths.
• Perform other religious ceremonies and services. Chaplains also perform religious rites and ceremonies such as marriages and funerals or memorial services. The chaplain is also expected to have expertise in premarital counseling and grief counseling.
• Counsel service members and their families. While chaplains are not considered clinical counselors, they perform pastoral counseling and are often called on to help people with various life challenges including issues related to combat stress, deployment, marriage, profession, family, substance abuse, and finances. Although chaplains are knowledgeable about the basics of various personal issues, they also refer individuals to other counseling sources when appropriate.  All communication in private with a military chaplain is strictly confidential. 
• Conduct visitation with injured or ill service members. Chaplains regularly visit injured or sick service members (at home or in the hospital). Through this one-on-one contact, the chaplain can offer comfort, spiritual support, and pastoral care to those recuperating from illness or injury.
• Advise commanders on moral, ethical, and spiritual issues. Chaplains serve as advisors to commanders on all matters of morality, integrity, and religion. 
• Develop religious education programs and youth activities. Chaplains provide religious instruction and are responsible to the commander for religious education programs such as Sunday-school classes and youth programs.
• Conduct morale, spiritual, and social development seminars and retreats. Chaplains conduct seminars and retreats for service members and their families to include those addressing marriage enrichment, parenting skills, spiritual-leadership training, service member transition from combat operation, anger management, and spiritual formation for youth and adults.

These teams perform a variety of functions. The main duties of chaplains (with support from chaplain assistants or religious program specialists) include the following:

• Conduct worship and administer sacraments. Chaplains are responsible for ensuring that service members have the opportunity to worship in the manner in which they choose. This means that chaplains conduct worship services and administer sacraments in the manner in which they are accustomed, and that they also seek out accommodations for persons of other faiths.
• Perform other religious ceremonies and services. Chaplains also perform religious rites and ceremonies such as marriages and funerals or memorial services. The chaplain is also expected to have expertise in premarital counseling and grief counseling.
• Counsel service members and their families. While chaplains are not considered clinical counselors, they perform pastoral counseling and are often called on to help people with various life challenges including issues related to combat stress, deployment, marriage, profession, family, substance abuse, and finances. Although chaplains are knowledgeable about the basics of various personal issues, they also refer individuals to other counseling sources when appropriate.  All communication in private with a military chaplain is strictly confidential. 
• Conduct visitation with injured or ill service members. Chaplains regularly visit injured or sick service members (at home or in the hospital). Through this one-on-one contact, the chaplain can offer comfort, spiritual support, and pastoral care to those recuperating from illness or injury.
• Advise commanders on moral, ethical, and spiritual issues. Chaplains serve as advisors to commanders on all matters of morality, integrity, and religion. 
• Develop religious education programs and youth activities. Chaplains provide religious instruction and are responsible to the commander for religious education programs such as Sunday-school classes and youth programs.
• Conduct morale, spiritual, and social development seminars and retreats. Chaplains conduct seminars and retreats for service members and their families to include those addressing marriage enrichment, parenting skills, spiritual-leadership training, service member transition from combat operation, anger management, and spiritual formation for youth and adults.

Pastoral care and counseling describes a broad range of activities involved in caring for and strengthening service members, DoD civilians, and their families to survive and grow through the multitude of experiences that are part of military life. Pastoral care and counseling can range from informal home visits by the chaplain to formal counseling provided by chaplains who are licensed to offer counseling services.

Pastoral care and counseling describes a broad range of activities involved in caring for and strengthening service members, DoD civilians, and their families to survive and grow through the multitude of experiences that are part of military life. Pastoral care and counseling can range from informal home visits by the chaplain to formal counseling provided by chaplains who are licensed to offer counseling services.

A "lay leader" is a volunteer who is appointed by the commanding officer and supervised and trained by the command chaplain to meet the needs of a particular religious faith group when military chaplains of that faith group are not available. Lay leaders operate with the written approval of their faith group and under the supervision of the Service chaplaincy.

A "lay leader" is a volunteer who is appointed by the commanding officer and supervised and trained by the command chaplain to meet the needs of a particular religious faith group when military chaplains of that faith group are not available. Lay leaders operate with the written approval of their faith group and under the supervision of the Service chaplaincy.

Strong Bonds is a chaplain-led Army program that helps Soldiers and their families build strong relationships. The program’s mission is to build Soldier readiness by providing skills the Soldier can use to strengthen his or her marriage and other relationships. Strong Bonds was initially intended solely for married couples, but it has now been expanded to include single Soldiers.

Strong Bonds is a chaplain-led Army program that helps Soldiers and their families build strong relationships. The program’s mission is to build Soldier readiness by providing skills the Soldier can use to strengthen his or her marriage and other relationships. Strong Bonds was initially intended solely for married couples, but it has now been expanded to include single Soldiers.

Service members should first seek out the unit chaplain. If a referral is needed, the unit chaplain can help. If service members and their families do not live near a military installation, they can contact the closest installation and ask for assistance. If needed, Military OneSource can help to identify their unit chaplain.

Chapels located on military installations, both in the continental United States and overseas, provide a wide variety of support services for families. Through installation chapels, service members and their families can locate chaplains to learn more information on any workshops, counseling, religious education, and special events offered at the installation. Contact information for chapels can be found on most installation home pages and is also accessible through MilitaryINSTALLATIONS under the program or service "Chapels."

Service members should first seek out the unit chaplain. If a referral is needed, the unit chaplain can help. If service members and their families do not live near a military installation, they can contact the closest installation and ask for assistance. If needed, Military OneSource can help to identify their unit chaplain.

Chapels located on military installations, both in the continental United States and overseas, provide a wide variety of support services for families. Through installation chapels, service members and their families can locate chaplains to learn more information on any workshops, counseling, religious education, and special events offered at the installation. Contact information for chapels can be found on most installation home pages and is also accessible through MilitaryINSTALLATIONS under the program or service "Chapels."