Unlike most officers in the Army, a chaplain begins serving as a staff officer immediately. As a member of the commander’s special staff, the chaplain is responsible for providing advice in matters pertaining to religion, morals, and morale. The chaplain serves the Army with a chaplain assistant (56M) as part of a Unit Ministry Team (UMT). As a non-combatant, chaplains do not carry or use weapons. The chaplain assistant provides security for the UMT and assists with the administrative aspects of the UMT’s ministry. Fully trained in the technical arena of religious support and Soldier-specific tasks, chaplain assistants are an integral part of the UMT’s mission.
