Military Religion

Research Paper—Chaplaincy & Religion in the United States Military
The military of the United States has included chaplains and religion to at least some degree since its inception. Local ministers were called upon to counsel members of the militia and would be consulted in the planning phase of operations because of his education and knowledge. (U.S. Chaplains) In July of 1775, the Second Constitutional Congress provided $20 per month pay for chaplains. (Military Chaplains)
The colonial army used chaplains to promote moral and ethical behavior among soldiers during the Revolutionary War, as well as to provide religious leadership. General Washington ordered that religious services be held at 11:00 a.m. on each Sunday morning during the
The chaplain corps continued in their role as liaison between the commander and troops, as well as they held religious services that provided an opportunity to teach illiterate soldiers how to read. Army chaplains were also involved with education and meeting other needs of freed slaves. The first female chaplain was elected to the Union army in 1864, and the first Jewish, black, and Indian chaplains were also recognized during the Civil War period.
Chaplaincy in the military increased by over 6,000 percent during World War II. During this time, chaplains began to focus more on their religious duties, and through modern day have become increasingly involved with family life issues because of the incidence and recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder, and pressure on families who are separated from their soldiers. Chaplains are also being called to provide outreach to local religious leaders in areas of conflict and provide humanitarian
25.5 percent of military members identify as no religious preference, secular humanist, agnostic, or atheist. Conversely, one hundred percent of the approximately 3,000 military chaplains on duty are listed as a Christian denomination, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu. While this is a dramatic change in the modern military and positive recognition for the diversity of religion in military service, those who do not identify with a mainstream religious belief system are clearly underrepresented in the chaplain corps.
Some atheist leaders believe that although proselytizing is not allowed in the military, that the dominance of Christianity creates a culture whereby military members feel pressured to convert. (Dao) They also believe that some atheist members identify as no religious preference because they fear reprisal. A number of chaplains disagree. They believe that no religious preference is more of an open category chosen by members who are faithful, but do not wish to identify with a particular