Staff Authority

TC 1-05

Command and Staff

Advising the commander and staff of the impact faith and

practices of indigenous religious groups have in an AO (with the

G5 [S5]).

Performing or providing religious rites, sacraments, ordinances,

services, and pastoral care and counseling to nurture the living,

care for the dying, and honor the dead.

Providing RS to the command and community, including

confined or hospitalized personnel, EPWs, civilian detainees,

and refugees.

Providing liaison to indigenous religious leaders (with the G5

[S5]).

Training, equipping, and supporting subordinate chaplains and

chaplain assistants.

Staff Authority

Staff responsibility assignment does not confer command authority

over other staff officers or over any other elements of the command.

Battalion or higher-level commanders delegate authority to the

chaplain to take final action on RS matters within command policy.

The authority delegated to the chaplain varies with the level and

mission of the command and the immediacy of operations for the

command. The commander retains overall responsibility.

The chaplain is responsible for the manner in which delegated

authority is exercised and for the results obtained. When chaplains

exercise staff authority on behalf of the commander, they must ensure

that all authority is exercised in a professional manner consistent with

the Army and Chaplain Corps Values. The chaplain is also

responsible for any authority temporarily assumed while acting in the

commander's name in response to an emergency situation. However,

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10 May 2005