United States Corps of Chaplains
National Headquarters
Training Office
"Nurture the Living, Care for the Dying
and Honor the Dead"
I don't know about the rest of you but I get hundreds of EMail messages a day and read posts made to several discussion groups. I speak online to many, many people each day and, while I know who they are in most cases, it is quite easy to lose track of who is who, where they live, what their assignment is and a wide range of other information.
In some cases, such as in private emails, we may become more friendly or familiar and we can forget to return to the more official, respectful form of address when we post in the public forums.
Signature lines can prove to be a useful tool to help us all get to know each other and be reminded of everyone's location and assignment. One problem however is that we may at times forget that there is one, specific style for USCOC Signature Lines.
First is your Rank and Name
Next is your most local assignment (if applicable)
Next is your Unit Designation
Lastly is the name of the Corps - Spelled out
It would look like this:
SGT Joe Doe
Medical Officer,
Alpha Co, E. BTN,
NH BDE, 1st DIV
United States Corps of Chaplains
For a Chaplain it would look like this:
Chaplain (2LT) Joe Doe
Commander,
Alpha Co, E. BTN,
NH BDE, 1st DIV
United States Corps of Chaplains
**Note that the title of Chaplain comes first, prior to rank, with rank in ( ).
You will notice that only Rank and Titles assigned by the USCOC are used. While we are proud of your outside achievements, the use of Secular, Educational or Religious titles is NOT appropriate for USCOC Signature lines.
Again, note that ONLY USCOC specific Rank and the Chaplain title are authorized in signature blocks for USCOC related emails and posts. No other Civilian or Religious titles are to be used in USCOC Correspondence or Signature Blocks. Titles such as Rev., Bishop, Pastor, etc., and Degree designations (such as DD., PhD., ThD, etc., ARE NOT USED in USCOC Signatrue Blocks.
The Board of Directors has said that links to the official websites of your Division or Brigade will be allowed in your signature line or you may use a link back to the USCOC HQ Website. (www.uscochq.com)
Signature Lines should be used on all Corps related email and discussion board posts to clearly identify the sender.
One last note, I am certainly NOT an English teacher however we must watch our spelling when it comes to our signature files, and any material that those outside the USCOC may be viewing, as it reflects on our credibility. It is Corps NOT corp. It is Chaplain NOT chaplan or chaplin. Small things to be sure but they can speak loudly to others about our professionalism.
Back to the USCOC National Headquarters