text: Religious Support for the Army
  RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
  1-33. The religious affairs specialist is a combatant trained in the delivery of RS in an OE. The religious
  affairs specialist requires a secret clearance to coordinate with other staff sections within the unit’s operations
  center. The religious affairs specialist integrates the chaplain section or UMT into the unit security mission
  and accompanies the chaplain throughout the AO. Under the supervision of a chaplain, the religious affairs
  specialist coordinates and synchronizes RS for the unit. As an integral member of the chaplain section or
  UMT, the religious affairs specialist assists in providing informed and relevant advisement on religious and
  cultural affairs. In the chaplain’s absence, the religious affairs specialist continues the RS mission for the
  commander as a staff representative, but does not assume the religious leadership role of a chaplain. If
  assigned as a supervisory chaplain section or UMT noncommissioned officer in charge to certain brigades
  and above, the religious affairs specialist requires the additional skill identifier of 2S.
  1-34. Under the supervision of a chaplain, the religious affairs specialist—
  * Assists in RS planning, preparation, execution, and training (movement, sustainment, rehearsals
  and survivability).
  * Coordinates for and supervises section activities (equipment maintenance, sustainment support,
  classified data systems and access).
  * Assesses unit morale and advises the chaplain accordingly.
  * Assists the chaplain in fulfilling all three core competencies (for example, pre-counseling
  interviews and traumatic event management).
  * Assists in development of the religious area analysis in order to support advisement on religious
  and cultural affairs in the AO and religious accommodation.
  * Serves as section liaison to the unit command sergeant major and all other noncommissioned
  officers.
  SUMMARY
  1-35. RS to the Army is founded on historic precedent and constitutional, legal, and regulatory requirements.
  Chaplains serve commands to provide for the freedom of religion for every Service member, Family member,
  and authorized civilian. The chaplain provides RS on behalf of the commander. Both the chaplain and
  religious affairs specialist are fully committed to maintaining the highest moral standards, as well as Army
  and Chaplain Corps values at all times in pursuit of the RS mission.
  1-36. The Army requires adaptable and flexible chaplains and religious affairs specialists with the capacity
  to successfully function in an OE that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, marked by rapid
  change, and executed under austere and isolated conditions. The Army requires trained chaplains and
  religious affairs specialists capable of critically assessing an operational situation and quickly adapting RS
  functions and tasks to sustain Service members across the ROMO. (See ADRP 1-03 for religious tasks.)
  1-37. Chaplains deliver RS through two required capabilities: provide and advise. Within the two required
  capabilities, chaplains and religious affairs specialists fulfill three basic core competencies: nurture the living,
  care for the wounded, and honor the dead. These three competencies provide the fundamental focus and
  direction as the chaplaincy executes its mission of facilitating free exercise of religion for Service members,
  Families, and authorized civilians. As a branch, the Chaplain Corps remains committed to providing religious
  leadership for the entire Army Family in support of the joint force. In training and operations, Army chaplains
  represent hundreds of American denominations and faith traditions and fulfill a sacred calling of service
  captured in their motto, “Pro Deo et Patria” (for God and country).