Chaplains in T2K

[pmulcahy11b]

By the time of 2000, I imagine a chaplain something like a catholic priest in Monsignor who made a confession to his superior: "I have loved a woman, I have killed for my country, I have consorted with criminals...father, I am a priest!

[WallShadow]

One wonders how many clergy have lost their faith, seeing what horrors man can inflict on fellow man

[Silent Hunter UK]

One wonders how many clergy have lost their faith, seeing what horrors man can inflict on fellow man

Or people who have come to faith as they can no longer rely on fellow man - or indeed see that the End Times are coming.

Have you ever read Warday There are a number of priest characters in that.

[CDAT]

So here is my chaplain question for the group. Under current laws of war Chaplains can not touch weapons, this is the reason every one is assigned an aid. I am guessing that this would fall by the wayside but would it be before or after "you are on your own". Thoughts, if after then they (the character) would not start with a weapon, if before they would. But either way would they have much skill with it

[The Dark]

So here is my chaplain question for the group. Under current laws of war Chaplains can not touch weapons, this is the reason every one is assigned an aid. I am guessing that this would fall by the wayside but would it be before or after "you are on your own". Thoughts, if after then they (the character) would not start with a weapon, if before they would. But either way would they have much skill with it

After. I would expect many denominations to recall all their chaplains if the military required them to be armed.

[Draq]

Like most things, I would think It would depend on the person and situation

[rcaf_777]

Under current laws of war Chaplains can not touch weapons, this is the reason every one is assigned an aid.

Actually under rule 25 of the Geneva Convention, both Medical and Religious persons are permitted to carry small arms for personnel protection and protection of their charges(Wounded) There is also (Protocol I, 8 June 1977, Art 43.2) that states chaplains are non-combatants, but dose address the issue of weapons.

The aid you talk about is not seen in many armies, outside of the US Army which has Chaplain Assistants, which carry small arms.

Many NATO nations consider Chaplains as commissioned officer, and under ago basic officer training. Most nations require them to have an ecclesiastical endorsement which come from that person completed all the requirements to be become a Chaplain in that faith. Additional a degree may also be required.

Germany is a exception as it has laws and Reichskonkordat between the Holy See and Germany, all of which prevent chaplains from joining military they are instead special civilian status.

More info can found at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_chaplain#Germany

It should also be noted that there no US military regulation that prevents Chaplains for be awarded marksmanship awards.

I remember seeing chaplains armed with pistols in Afghanistan

I don't think it would be a big deal to leave to the PC's to decide if they have a pistol or rifle (nothing else)

[ArmySGT.]

The Catholic Chaplain we would pick up and bring back to our base carried a issue sidearm in 2003-2004. Some Chaplains are also Conscientious Objectors and do not carry. The Chaplains Assistant carried an M16A2. Because of the IED threat, my MP unit would come get the Chaplain in our M1114 Uparmored humvees, then return him to Battalion later.

[Sanjuro]

A good chaplain will drop everything when the troops need help...

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=gewUQ8SGulU

Of course, the troops should protect them in return...

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=iYJNaF_btvg

[rcaf_777]

Lets not forgot

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition, which may have said by Lt. J.G. Howell M. Forgy, USN, Chaplain, USS New Orleans (CL/CA-32)

[pmulcahy11b]

So here is my chaplain question for the group. Under current laws of war Chaplains can not touch weapons, this is the reason every one is assigned an aid. I am guessing that this would fall by the wayside but would it be before or after "you are on your own". Thoughts, if after then they (the character) would not start with a weapon, if before they would. But either way would they have much skill with it

He would not come with a weapon, for he was not issued one; however, our battalion chaplain at 24th ID went to the range with our unit every chance he got, because he loved target shooting, and he could routinely shoot Expert. (I don't know if he was allowed to wear it on his uniform.) So a chaplain could in fact be deadly accurate, just not carrying a weapon (initially).

The chaplain's assistant, on the other hand had a fully stocked HMMWV, and was literally the most heavily-armed man in the battalion, including an M16 with M203, an M1911A1 pistol, several AT-4s, a Dragon with 3 reloads, boxes of grenades, and ours carried both a hunting knife and a dagger. Of course, he also had to have mad skills and a good knowledge of rituals and holy books from several faiths.

It should also be noted that there no US military regulation that prevents Chaplains for be awarded marksmanship awards.

OK, question answered.

[ArmySGT.]

I don't recall. However, I would swear the Catholic Chaplain I was transporting had and issue M9 pistol for self defense. I think having a pistol is a case by case basis. I could well be fully wrong on that too, as it is fourteen years later.

[pmulcahy11b]

I don't recall. However, I would swear the Catholic Chaplain I was transporting had and issue M9 pistol for self defense. I think having a pistol is a case by case basis. I could well be fully wrong on that too, as it is fourteen years later.

I've never seen a Chaplain with an issue weapon. Of course, Iraq and Afghanistan changed the rules on just about everything, and I wasn't part of that, having already medically retired.

[The Dark]

I've never seen a Chaplain with an issue weapon. Of course, Iraq and Afghanistan changed the rules on just about everything, and I wasn't part of that, having already medically retired.

The last I heard (although I'm a couple years out of touch with any chaplains) was that regs (FM 27-10, Army Regulation 165-1) required chaplains to be unarmed in combat and in unit combat skills training.

More broadly, under the Geneva Conventions, chaplains are non-combatants, and one carrying a weapon could be considered to have forfeited the rights of a chaplain under Protocol I (e.g. they are not considered a POW, cannot be compelled to work, and must be provided transport between camps for visits to groups of POWs). An armed chaplain loses their protected status and, if wearing a chaplain's badge, could be found guilty of perfidy (falsifying protected status) and subjected to appropriate sentencing (usually execution, if history is any teacher). Likewise, chapel buildings (like hospitals) become legitimate targets if a weapon is taken into them - their protected status is contingent on not being used in a combat role.

Now, in the case of our current conflicts, where the opposing side isn't particularly beholden to the GC, it would make more sense to unofficially carry a personal weapon. For a more conventional conflict, less so.

[bobcat]

i have seen it both ways. it seems the closer to garrison you get the less chaplains would be carrying. given sufficient manpower shortages i could see more chaplains carrying more weapons just so they can actually get around to the soldiers that most need a chaplain. i believe a rifle would lend more credibility among front line troops, after all how can you bless something you aren't willing to do.