From the beginning of our national history, Chaplains, as soldiers of God, have helped to shape the heritage of America. The first United States Chaplaincy associated with the military was officially created by an act of the Continental Congress in July of 1775 upon the urgent request of General George Washington. Since that time, adhering to the principles which later were included in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, military and civilian Chaplains have provided religious support to our military as well as to civilian communities of our nation.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees every American the right to the free exercise of religion. Chaplains are Clergy of their respective faith group, or denomination, but they function outside normal denominational lines. They provide and perform religious support in  the military and in the civilian communities to ensure the free exercise of religion. Chaplains perform religious support when their actions are in accordance with the tenets or beliefs of their faith group and are obligated to provide for those religious services or practices that they cannot personally perform.

The Chaplain's role is not to proselytize from other religious bodies. Chaplaincy is a ministry of presence. The function of a Chaplain is to "represent God" to the people they serve,  remaining always respectful of the individual's belief system, yet maintaining their own religious traditions. When conducting ministry or services of worship that include persons of other than their own religious body, Chaplains hold in trust the tenets, or beliefs, of their respective faith group, and draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices which they have in common. Chaplains do, however, retain the right to evangelize those who are non affiliated with a religious body.

As religious leaders, Chaplains, both military and civilian, continue to meet the vision of General George Washington in setting the standard for moral and ethical behavior by upholding the Chaplaincy Values which are incapsuled in the acronym "SACRED" --

• Spirituality: The bedrock of all faiths, providing meaning and direction in life. Seek to know God and yourself at the deepest level.
• Accountability: The means to measure how we practice what we preach. Hold yourself and others to the moral and spiritual high ground in every are of life.
• Compassion: Love in word and deed. The love that sees beyond the surface and discerns our common humanity.
• Religious Leadership: Model spiritual truths wisely and courageously.
• Excellence: Do your best for God's glory. The standard for staff work and religious responsibilities.
• Diversity: Being respectful of different views and ideas that are not like our own.

Chaplains are assisted by Chaplain Assistants and other support personnel in providing and/or performing religious support  to nurture the living, care for the dying, and honor the dead.     Religious support includes: 

• Religious services: Worship; Funerals; Memorial Services and Ceremonies; Prayer services.
• Rites, Sacraments, Ordinances: Marriages; Burials; Baptisms; Confirmations; Blessings; Daily Prayers; other ministrations and religious requirements.
• Pastoral care: Visiting individuals; calling on families; activities and unit "ministry of presence"; individual and group pastoral counseling; and similar pastoral activities. This may also include elements of the spiritual fitness training program. .
• Religious education: Study of religious teachings including activities of faith sustainment (enrichment, formation, study or instruction), marriage enrichment, problem solving, communication skills, parenting skills, youth programs, religious literature.
• Family life ministry: Training for facing family issues that may result from a disaster, stress, grief or loss.
• Institutional ministry: Supporting individuals and their family members receiving medical services. Institutional ministry occurs in hospitals and confinement or correction facilities.
• Professional support to the staff and members of the unit.
• Management and administration.
• Religious/humanitarian support.
• Religious support planning/operations and religious support training.

Far to often, when Chaplains are needed for service to the military, veterans, or the civilian community, none are on hand. This became very apparent as a result of the attack on the United States of America on September 11, 2001 and various other attacks against her citizens around the world by various terrorist organizations. Therefore, the United States Corps of Chaplains (USCOC) was formed to help remedy this need by providing Ministerial and  Religious Support not only to the active Military, but to our Nation's Veteran's, their Families, and the Civilian Community.

The United States Corps of Chaplains (USCOC)

The United States Corps of Chaplains, a volunteer, civilian, patriotic, public service organization, is structured in military fashion, with main and subordinate units to assist its Chaplains in providing and performing religious and humanitarian support. The members of the USCOC units are commissioned, or assigned, to rank positions similar to military rank designations, so that a clear chain of command and responsibility is designated for accomplishing religious and humanitarian support. Although the USCOC Chaplains may be commissioned to various officer ranks, the proper title for a Chaplain is "Chaplain" regardless of rank and professional title. When expressed in writing, the Chaplains rank is indicated in parentheses, for example, Chaplain (CPT) John Doe, or Chaplain (CPT) Doe.

USCOC Ministry Teams

USCOC Chaplains develop Ministry Teams to specifically assist them in the  performance ministry and religious support within the community and during emergencies and disasters.. A Ministry Team is composed of a Chaplain, and/or Chaplain Assistant(s), and other support personnel as needed. A specific USCOC Unit may consist of one or more Ministry Teams.

Disaster Relief Support Operations

Support operations are conducted to relieve suffering and help civil authorities prepare for, or respond to, crises. Support Operations usually are conducted to relieve or reduce the results of natural or manmade disasters. They are also conducted to relieve conditions (such as pain, disease, hunger, or privation) that present a serious threat to life or loss of property.

The goal of a USCOC Ministry Team in a disaster relief operation is the personal delivery of comprehensive, timely, and effective religious support to all victims and relief workers when a crisis, disaster, or emergency occurs. The Ministry Team sets up operations outside the zone where other agencies are working.

This religious support must be comprehensive, because each individual involved has his or her own definition of what constitutes religious support. While not every spiritual need of every person can be met in the disaster zone, the Ministry Team seeks to meet as many needs as possible. It must be timely, because time is a limited commodity, and the situation changes in the disaster zone. The Ministry Team must be aware of the changing situation and prioritize ministry accordingly. It must be effective, because religious support must be more than minimal presence and a hurried service by the Ministry Team. Quality effective religious support can provide hope and courage to individuals and families who are facing the stress of a disaster.