On November 11, 2005, Congress established a Base Realignment and Closure mandate for the Nation's military chaplaincies. That mandate had two imperatives: (one) relocate the Naval Chaplains School from Newport,RI, the Religious Program Specialst (RP) training from Meridan, MS, and the Air Force Chaplain Service Institute from Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL, to Fort Jackson, SC, and (two) establish the Joint Center of Excellence for Religious Training and Education. These three independent and co-located schools form the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center.
The co-located school campus is dedicated to training and educating Chaplains, Chaplain Assistants, and Religious Program Specialists. Together, the AFCC preserves the heritage and strength of each chaplaincy, training programs and shape future shared training opportunities.
Each school maintains its own Commandant/Commanding Officer, staff and faculty. An Overall Director and Senior Enlisted Advisor are responsible for common issues affecting the Center. Each of the three service schools maintains service lines of authority and responsibility with its Chief of Chaplains and service training oversight.
The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center seeks opportunities for shared training to meet the professional development needs of highly education and trained religious support personnel within our nation's military. It will also seek opportunities to meet the educational requirements of the best qualified Total Force while doing the research, analysis, and development necessary to keep religious support current and responsive to the dynamic needs of our nation.
[Editor's Note: It was my privilege to attend the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremonies for the new Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center with over a thousand guests including endorsers from various churches, former Chiefs of Chaplains, active duty and retired chaplains.
Attending from the IPHC were Retired Air Force Chaplain, Colonel David C. Sessions, from Sumter, SC, LCDR Marc McDowell, Chaplain, US Navy, Chaplain, Captain John Kwon, USAF Reserve in the Air Force Chaplain Officer Basic Course, and yours truly, Hugh H. Morgan.
This photo is of Chaplain (Major General) Douglas Carver, Chief of Army Chaplains. He was our keynote speaker for our 2009 Chaplains, Spouses, and Guests Dinner Banquet in Greensboro, NC, during our retreat and prior to General Conference.
Chaplain Carver is a gifted pianist and worship leader, as well as a gifted preacher/speaker. He is anointed by the Holy Spirit to lead God's people in praise and worship. He does it all over the world with our soldiers wherever they are.]
Posted on
Tue, May 11, 2010
by Hugh Morgan