MILITARY CHAPLAIN 101 UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. What does the Latin phrase, "Pro Deo Et Patria" mean?
Answer:
For God and Country!
Question:
2. Which branches of the military have a chaplaincy?
Answer:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Question:
3. What is the origin of the title "Chaplain?"
Answer:
The word chaplain is derived from cappa, the Latin word for cloak. The term chaplain originated in the
Fourth century from Saint Martin of Tours. During his time as a Soldier, Saint Martin felt compelled to
care for a shivering man outside his Army encampment. Saint Martin sacrificed his own well-being by
splitting his only cloak in half to cover the needy man. The cloak became a relic carried by Soldiers into
battle, representing Saint Martin's selfless care for the needy and his spiritual care for Soldiers. The French
word "chappelle" translates into the English word, "Chapel."
Question:
4. What date did the Army Chaplain Corps officially begin?
Answer:
The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps has a rich history that begins with the Continental Congress giving
chaplains official recognition on July 29, 1775, adding chaplains to the ranks a month after the creation of
the Army itself and almost a year before the birth of our nation in 1776. The Chaplain Corps is 247 years
old as of July 29th,
2022.
Question:
5. What was the original insignia authorized for US Army Chaplains to wear?
Answer:
The Shepherd's Crook. This was worn between 1880-1888, and is still included as part of the U.S. Army
Chaplain Corps regimental insignia.
Question:
6. What is the mission of the Army Chaplain Corps?
Answer:
The mission of the Army Chaplain Corps is to provide RS to the Army across the range of military
operations by assisting the commander in providing for free exercise of religion and providing religious,
ethical, and moral leadership through its required capabilities (provide and advise) and core competencies
(nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the dead) (ATP 1-05.01, 1-3 and ATP 1-05.04, 1-3).
,Question:
7. Who is the current Army Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
Chaplain (Major General) David Green became the United States Army's 26th Chief of Chaplains in 2023
Question:
8. Who is the current active duty Deputy Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
BG Stumme
Question:
9. Who is the current Army Reserve Deputy Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
BG Andrew R. Harewood
Question:
10. Who is the current Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the National Guard?
Answer:
BG Thomas G. Behling was the last one. The positions is currently vacant.
Question:
11. How many Chaplain Brigadier General positions are there in the Army?
Answer:
Three (Deputies to CCH in Compos 1, 2, 3)
Question:
12. How many Chaplains serve in the National Guard?
Answer:
There are 800 authorizations but currently only 673 fill those slots.
Question:
13. How long is a term of office for a Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
Four years (10 US Code, Section 8082)
Question:
14. Who is the current Chaplain Corps Regimental Sergeant Major?
Answer:
SGM Meaghan Simmons
Question:
15. Why is it important for a Chaplain to remain in good standing with one's ecclesiastical endorsing
agent?
, Answer:
The chaplains remain accountable to their endorsers in all matters pertaining to the continued maintenance
of their credentials while they perform religious functions in the Army. If a chaplain does something to
jeopardize the religious credentials, the sponsoring agency may withdraw its endorsement. A chaplain
cannot continue to function as a chaplain and may face separation from service if he or she loses
professional religious credentials or ecclesiastical endorsement. Chaplains must maintain a healthy
relationship with their respective endorsers while serving in the Army (AR 165-1, Section 6-14b).
Question:
16. How many Chaplains currently serve in the US Army?
Answer:
Today, some 1,300 active duty Army chaplains and 1,200 in the reserve components serve while
representing five major faiths groups (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu) and over 120
denominations (see Armyhistory.org).
Question:
17. What are the five authorized religious insignias for Chaplains?
Answer:
The Christian cross from 1888 onward. The Jewish Chaplain insignia made up of two tablets of the Ten
Commandments, with ten Roman numerals symbolizing the commandments, and with the six-pointed Star
of David above the tablets, was adopted for Jewish Army chaplains in 1917. The Buddhist eight-spoked
wheel, representing the dharmacakra (the "wheel of dharma" or sometimes, "wheel of law"), completed in
August 1990. The Muslim Crescent insignia which was completed on January 8, 1993. The Hindu insignia
is the "om" and was authorized for wear in May of 2012.
Question:
18. What is the proper title for a Lieutenant Colonel Chaplain?
Answer:
Chaplain. Rank and echelon have no bearing on the address. In written correspondence, it is appropriate to
write the rank in parenthesis after the title of Chaplain.
Question:
19. What document is used to evaluate a chaplain candidate's performance?
Answer:
DA 1059 (Academic Evaluation Report)
Question:
20. Which form is used as a request for personnel action?
Answer:
DA Form 4187
Question:
21. Which form is used to initiate an award?
Answer:
DA Form 638
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. What does the Latin phrase, "Pro Deo Et Patria" mean?
Answer:
For God and Country!
Question:
2. Which branches of the military have a chaplaincy?
Answer:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Question:
3. What is the origin of the title "Chaplain?"
Answer:
The word chaplain is derived from cappa, the Latin word for cloak. The term chaplain originated in the
Fourth century from Saint Martin of Tours. During his time as a Soldier, Saint Martin felt compelled to
care for a shivering man outside his Army encampment. Saint Martin sacrificed his own well-being by
splitting his only cloak in half to cover the needy man. The cloak became a relic carried by Soldiers into
battle, representing Saint Martin's selfless care for the needy and his spiritual care for Soldiers. The French
word "chappelle" translates into the English word, "Chapel."
Question:
4. What date did the Army Chaplain Corps officially begin?
Answer:
The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps has a rich history that begins with the Continental Congress giving
chaplains official recognition on July 29, 1775, adding chaplains to the ranks a month after the creation of
the Army itself and almost a year before the birth of our nation in 1776. The Chaplain Corps is 247 years
old as of July 29th,
2022.
Question:
5. What was the original insignia authorized for US Army Chaplains to wear?
Answer:
The Shepherd's Crook. This was worn between 1880-1888, and is still included as part of the U.S. Army
Chaplain Corps regimental insignia.
Question:
6. What is the mission of the Army Chaplain Corps?
Answer:
The mission of the Army Chaplain Corps is to provide RS to the Army across the range of military
operations by assisting the commander in providing for free exercise of religion and providing religious,
ethical, and moral leadership through its required capabilities (provide and advise) and core competencies
(nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the dead) (ATP 1-05.01, 1-3 and ATP 1-05.04, 1-3).
,Question:
7. Who is the current Army Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
Chaplain (Major General) David Green became the United States Army's 26th Chief of Chaplains in 2023
Question:
8. Who is the current active duty Deputy Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
BG Stumme
Question:
9. Who is the current Army Reserve Deputy Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
BG Andrew R. Harewood
Question:
10. Who is the current Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the National Guard?
Answer:
BG Thomas G. Behling was the last one. The positions is currently vacant.
Question:
11. How many Chaplain Brigadier General positions are there in the Army?
Answer:
Three (Deputies to CCH in Compos 1, 2, 3)
Question:
12. How many Chaplains serve in the National Guard?
Answer:
There are 800 authorizations but currently only 673 fill those slots.
Question:
13. How long is a term of office for a Chief of Chaplains?
Answer:
Four years (10 US Code, Section 8082)
Question:
14. Who is the current Chaplain Corps Regimental Sergeant Major?
Answer:
SGM Meaghan Simmons
Question:
15. Why is it important for a Chaplain to remain in good standing with one's ecclesiastical endorsing
agent?
, Answer:
The chaplains remain accountable to their endorsers in all matters pertaining to the continued maintenance
of their credentials while they perform religious functions in the Army. If a chaplain does something to
jeopardize the religious credentials, the sponsoring agency may withdraw its endorsement. A chaplain
cannot continue to function as a chaplain and may face separation from service if he or she loses
professional religious credentials or ecclesiastical endorsement. Chaplains must maintain a healthy
relationship with their respective endorsers while serving in the Army (AR 165-1, Section 6-14b).
Question:
16. How many Chaplains currently serve in the US Army?
Answer:
Today, some 1,300 active duty Army chaplains and 1,200 in the reserve components serve while
representing five major faiths groups (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu) and over 120
denominations (see Armyhistory.org).
Question:
17. What are the five authorized religious insignias for Chaplains?
Answer:
The Christian cross from 1888 onward. The Jewish Chaplain insignia made up of two tablets of the Ten
Commandments, with ten Roman numerals symbolizing the commandments, and with the six-pointed Star
of David above the tablets, was adopted for Jewish Army chaplains in 1917. The Buddhist eight-spoked
wheel, representing the dharmacakra (the "wheel of dharma" or sometimes, "wheel of law"), completed in
August 1990. The Muslim Crescent insignia which was completed on January 8, 1993. The Hindu insignia
is the "om" and was authorized for wear in May of 2012.
Question:
18. What is the proper title for a Lieutenant Colonel Chaplain?
Answer:
Chaplain. Rank and echelon have no bearing on the address. In written correspondence, it is appropriate to
write the rank in parenthesis after the title of Chaplain.
Question:
19. What document is used to evaluate a chaplain candidate's performance?
Answer:
DA 1059 (Academic Evaluation Report)
Question:
20. Which form is used as a request for personnel action?
Answer:
DA Form 4187
Question:
21. Which form is used to initiate an award?
Answer:
DA Form 638
