[History of the Religious
Program Specialist (RP) Rating,]
[The Chaplain's Specialist]
[Selection and Training of Specialists]
[Specialists With the Marines]
[Performance Appraisal of Specialists (W)]
[Yeoman Chaplain's Professional Assistant (YN-2525)]
[RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS RATING ESTABLISHED]
[RP Duty Stations]
History of the Religious Program Specialist (RP) Rating
The Religious Program Specialist (RP) rating was established on 15 January 1979, and is designed to provide Navy chaplains with professional support personnel who are skilled in religious programming and administration. However, the concept of chaplain's assistant dates back to 1878 when a committee of chaplains recommended to the Navy Department that a chaplain's assistant be assigned to each ship that had a chaplain assigned. This assistant would have been a schoolmaster who could play organ music and lead singing. Although the recommendation was not adopted, the idea was given support by successive generations of chaplains.
Approximately two-thirds of the tasks which RPs are trained to perform are in the area of religious programming. The remaining tasks are of a clerical or administrative nature.
Personnel of the RP rating, unlike chaplains, are combatants and have responsibility for the chaplain's safety when assigned to units engaged in combat.
It is important to note that personnel selected for the RP rating are limited to performing religious tasks which do not required ordination or licensing. Even though members of the rating are required to support chaplains and persons of all faith groups, a Religious Program Specialist does not conduct worship services, administer sacraments and ordinances, nor function as a pastoral counselor. RPs do not exercise any of the ministerial functions of the clergy or Navy Chaplain.
Early in 1942 the Navy Department took the first steps which led to the establishment of the "Specialist (W)" rating for chaplain's assistant. The (W) referred to welfare and it was decided that this rate would be established only for the duration of World War II. The first officially designated chaplain assistant in the history of the Navy was (W). Everett Hendricks who was authorized to enlist on 23 April 1942 with the rating of Specialist (W) first class. Hendricks was assigned to duty in the chaplain's office of the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was a talented musician and choir leader and had much to do with the success of the famed Great Lakes' Bluejacket Choir.
The first publicity that was given to the new rating by the Bureau of Naval Personnel (now Naval Military Personnel Command) actually appeared in a directive dated 25 June 1942 addressed to the Navy Recruiting Service. Eleven specialist ratings were identified in this directive including Welfare or chaplain's assistant. Those interested in Specialist (W) were directed to obtain information regarding specific qualifications from the Chief of Chaplains.
This directive was followed by a circular prepared and distributed by the Chaplains Division which outlined the required qualifications for Specialist (W). A college education was identified as being desirable for applicants but not absolutely necessary. Every Specialist (W) had to be able to play the piano and organ for religious services and other gatherings. Also, the Specialist (W) was expected to be a competent choir director.
Just as RPs today cannot exercise any of the ministerial functions of a clergy person, a Specialist (W) was not expected to serve as a religious leader. The circular stated specifically that the specialist should be willing to serve anywhere and under any conditions.
Accepted applicants under 25 years of age were given a third class rating; those between 25 and 28 were given second class; and those over 28 were given a first class rating. Those personnel who enlisted directly into the rating were sent to a training station for naval indoctrination before being assigned duties with a chaplain.
The Bureau of Naval Personnel ruled against Specialists (W) serving aboard ship. It was decided that they would be used only within the limits of the continental United State and at selected overseas bases. RPs today are afforded a greater variety of duty assignments including serving aboard numerous types of naval vessels.
The possibility of having Specialists (W) assigned throughout the Naval Shore Establishment was greeted with enthusiasm by Navy chaplains. Because of the constant transfer of personnel, chaplains had found it extremely difficult to maintain qualified musicians at their commands. The assignment of Specialists (W) helped solved this problem and chaplains throughout the Navy hastened to help qualified applicants become Specialist (W).
Selection and Training of Specialists
Most of the applicants for Specialist (W) had backgrounds as music teachers, professional musicians, or as church ministers-of-music. Many were also graduates of the leading schools of music in the country. Initially, these specialists received their training directly from the chaplains; however, this system proved to be inadequate. In the fall of 1942 as part of an experiment, Specialists (W) started attending some of the classes at the Chaplain's School located in Norfolk, Virginia. This experiment was so successful that the Chaplains Division decided to require all new Specialists (W) to take a course of indoctrination at the Chaplains' School.
The 8-week course of indoctrination for Specialist (W) training at the Chaplains' School included instruction in: naval etiquette; naval correspondence; clerical procedures; choir organization; rehearsal procedures; Navy Relief; music for Protestant, Roman Catholics, and Jewish services; military weddings and funerals; and, some practical application in shorthand and typing. Many of these same or similar subjects are being taught in the RP "A" school today located at Naval Training Command, Meridian, Mississippi.
Between April 1942 and August 1945, the Bureau of Naval Personnel selected 509 applicants for the Specialist (W) rating out of 1,455 applications. Approximately 350 of the specialist selectees attended the indoctrination course at the Chaplains' School. This training helped Specialist (W) petty officers to advance quite rapidly. Alfred R. Markin was advanced to Chief Specialist (W) on 29 February 1944 and is recognized as being the first individual to receive this rating. A total of 30 Specialists (W) were advanced to Chief Petty Officer and most of these senior petty officer were assigned to large training centers and in the offices of District, Force, and Fleet Chaplains.
Women also distinguished themselves as Specialists (W) during the war. Thirty-eight "WAVES" were selected to serve in the rating. Virginia T. Moore was the first women to be selected as a Specialist (S) as was subsequently assigned duty in November 1943 in Washington, DC. The first "WAVES" to attend the Chaplains' School in June 1944 were recognized as highly motivated, dedicated, and conscientious students.
The first member of the Coast Guard to receive the rate of Specialist (W) was Emil Zemanel in November 1943. Thirty-five men and 12 women of the Coast Guard were assigned this rating and 30 of these individuals attended the Chaplains' School. The Coast Guard assigned some of the men of this rating to ships.
Specialists With the United States Marine Corps
In February 1942, before the Navy had taken action in regard to Specialist (W), the Marine Corps established a rating known as Chaplain's Assistant (SSN534). The first Marine to receive the new classification was Gilbert Dean Arnold, who was made a Master Technical Sergeant, the equivalent of a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. Thirty-five members or the Marine Corps Women's Reserve became Chaplain's Assistants in addition to the 105 active duty Marines. Unlike the Navy and Coast Guard who instituted the Specialist (W) as a wartime measure, the Marine Corps announced that it intended to retain its rating of Chaplain's Assistant after the war.
Performance Appraisal of Specialists (W)
Chaplains' correspondence contains many references attributed specifically to the outstanding work of the Specialist (W). As a chaplain's assistant, the specialist took care of many details relating to worship services. This included preparing worship folders and bulletins, sending out publicity, rigging chapel spaces, and providing instrumental or vocal music for services. Also, the Specialist (W) was made available to provide special music for funerals, weddings, and for other occasions.
Since Specialists (W) often serve as managers or the chaplain's office, they were called upon to answer many questions from Sailors and their dependents. An efficient assistant was able to answer many routine inquiries, thus relieving the chaplain for other important duties and problems.
Chaplains who knew from experience the value of Specialist (W) often had occasion to voice their opinions concerning the lack of such assistants when transferred to ships or stations where this rate was not assigned.
After the war was over, Specialist (W) began to disappear from the offices and worship services of the chaplains. In spite of the desire of the Chaplains Division to retain this rating, the Department of the Navy decided that Specialist (W) was an emergency rating only. Upon the loss of these trained assistants, chaplains found themselves having to return to prewar practices in obtaining such musical talents as might be found in their respective units. Such assistance often had to be obtained from outside sources.
The Navy Department inaugurated a new rating structure on 1 April 1948. Among the new general services that were established was the rating of "Personnel Men." Members of this rating were assigned personnel administration duties in various offices including the chaplain's office. Personnel of this rating who had a job classification as chaplain's assistant could be assigned duty with chaplains.
Yeoman Chaplain's Professional Assistant (YN-2525)
Until 1979, personnel of the Yeoman rating were often designated as the "Chaplain's Clerk (YN-2525)" to assist the chaplain in conducting the Command Religious Program.
YN-2525 Description of Duties: Assists Chaplain by promoting the religious program and performing administrative duties. Prepares correspondence, requisitions, purchase orders, reports, and religious documents. Maintains material, fund, and interview records. Publishes schedules of services and programs. Schedules chaplain appointments and keeps log of events. Operates office and audiovisual equipment. Protects privileged communications. Maintains chapel equipment and supplies. Supervises rigging according to designed liturgical practice. Follows the liturgical calendar and uses ecclesiastical titles and terms.
Chaplains had to justify the need for a YN-2525 billet before a Yeoman would normally be assigned to the office of the chaplain. This proved to be a time-consuming process and placed the CRP in direct competition with other command departments for the services of personnel. Often unqualified personnel (those lacking the YN-2525 designation) were assigned to the office of the chaplain as temporary solutions to manning problems.
Many of the individuals who worked in the office of the chaplain, those with the YN-2525 designation and those without this designation, performed admirably under difficult circumstances. However, the pursuit of a permanent rating to assist the chaplain in managing the Command Religious Program remained a primary goal of the Chief of Chaplains.
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS RATING ESTABLISHED
The 101-year quest for a permanent chaplain's assistant rating was finally realized on 15 January 1979 when the Secretary of the Navy approved the establishment of the Religious Program Specialist (RP) rating. Stringent selection requirements were set and personnel requesting lateral conversion from one rate to the RP rating had to be interviewed and recommended by a Navy chaplain. After the chaplain recommended and individual for the RP rating, the commanding officer also had t recommend the applicant. Personnel requesting conversion to RP had to be a high school graduate or have a GED equivalent; be eligible for access to classified information; demonstrate support of the Navy's equal opportunity program; have no speech impediments and have demonstrated the ability to write effectively; have no conviction in civilian or military court within the past three years; and, be willing to support persons of all faith groups. These requirements have not changed since the establishment of the rate. It is obvious that a person must be trustworthy, dedicated, and quite conscientious in order to serve as a Religious Program Specialist.
On 9 May 1979, the Chief of Naval Operations approved the RP rating insignia. It consists of a compass, globe, and an anchor. The Compass suggests the direction which religion gives to life; The Globe symbolizes that religious ministries are available throughout the world; and, The Anchor indicates that religious support is provided continually for personnel of the Naval services.
RPs serve in a number of challenging environments. They are stationed at shore commands throughout the world in such places as Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, and many others. Stations in the continental United States include, but are not limited to, Norfolk, VA; Charleston, SC; Jacksonville, Orlando, and Key West, FL; Great Lakes, IL; Memphis, TN; Biloxi, Gulfport and Meridian, MS; Corpus Christi, TX; San Diego and San Francisco, CA; and, Bremerton, WA. By far, one of the most rewarding and challenging tours for the RP is serving a tour of duty aboard ships. The RP may be assigned to aircraft carriers, cruisers, submarine tenders; supply ships; ammunition ships; repair ships; and many other types. Also, the RP many deploy with Mobile Construction Battalions (SEABEES) throughout the world. Finally, the RP may serve with Marine Corps units both in the continental United States and at overseas locations.