| Religious Program Specialist | |
| Issued By: | United States Navy |
| Type: | Enlisted rating |
| Abbreviation: | RP |
| Specialty: | Administration |
Religious Program Specialist (RP) is a designated rating within the United States Navy. As an essential member of Professional Naval Chaplaincy, RPs fulfill a crucial function in administering religious ministry within the Department of the Navy (DON). Together with chaplains, they form the Religious Ministry Team (RMT). In this capacity, RPs actively support the provision and facilitation of Religious Ministry, offering assistance and care to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, as well as their families, irrespective of their backgrounds and faith affiliations. Despite working in a religiously diverse environment, RPs are not mandated to hold religious beliefs nor perform pastoral counseling for the service members under their care. Due to the mobile nature of the units they may be assigned to, RPs can be stationed on Navy ships, at various Navy and Marine Corps commands, navy construction battalions, and other unique combatant units-rendering them globally deployable.
Regardless of their assignment, the RP is required to fulfill a diverse range of duties and responsibilities in support of the Command Religious Program (CRP) and the Religious Ministry Team (RMT). These responsibilities encompass supporting Navy Chaplains of various faiths and facilitating religious activities within the command; preparing for divine religious services, providing multimedia support, establishing connections with local community religious resources both domestically and internationally, and conducting data analytics. Additionally, they are tasked with developing, managing, and maintaining the administrative and logistical support for religious programs and facilities across navy ships, shore stations, hospitals (to include Hospital ships), Marine Corps units, and other sea service commands.
The Religious Ministry Team (RMT) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of religious ministry within the Navy, across a broad spectrum of duties and functions assigned to RPs. The integration of RMTs throughout various commands and units reflects the Navy's commitment to ensuring comprehensive coverage of religious support during missions on the battlefield, at sea, and on the home front.
On Naval ships, RPs assume responsibility for the operation, administration, and programming of the Learning Media Resource Center (LMRC)-the ship's library, and the rigging and de-rigging of divine services. Moreover, they manage the scheduling and safeguarding of Chaplains' ability to maintain 100% confidentiality during counseling sessions.
Shore-based RP assignments involve the operation, administration, and programming of Navy and Marine Corps installation chapels, naval hospitals, and headquarters staff commands. They serve as subject matter experts in managing Religious Offering Funds and OPTAR funds as custodians. Also, they oversee the rigging and de-rigging of divine services, publish the religious activities of their commands, provide training for Command Religious Program (CRP) volunteers, and supervise personnel within the Chaplains' office.
RPs who have completed the "C" school program can serve with USMC units at home and abroad. Their roles span across various settings, including chapels on USMC installations, CBRNE response units, Marine aviation units, and even deployment to battlefield locations supporting infantry units. Their primary responsibilities include ensuring force protection and physical security for chaplains, who, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, are prohibited from carrying firearms. Furthermore, within this context, the RMT serves as subject matter experts in spiritual fitness and warrior resilience, aiming to enhance the readiness and endurance of their teams to effectively sustain combat operations.
In May 1979, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) approved the insignia for the RP Rating, comprising a compass, globe, and anchor. The compass symbolizes the guidance that religion provides in life, the globe signifies its accessibility worldwide, and the anchor represents its continual provision for sea service personnel.
In September 2009, the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) was established in Columbia, South Carolina. Ten years later, it temporarily relocated to Naval Air Station Meridian in Meridian, Mississippi, until 2021 when it moved to its current location in Newport, Rhode Island, officially renamed as the Naval Chaplaincy School (NCS). During their time at "A" school, whether they are transitioning from boot camp or returning to the fleet to convert to RP, RPs learn the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their duties upon returning to the fleet.
Located at Camp Johnson in Jacksonville, North Carolina, this 8-week course is designed for RPs who have received orders to USMC units- referred to as Fleet Marine Force (FMF), or "green side" RPs. Here, they undergo basic combat and expeditionary skills training, including rifle training, land navigation, and instruction in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Additionally, they serve alongside Hospital Corpsmen (HM) to learn basic medical and first aid skills through Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), focusing on Care Under Fire and Tactical Field Care, equipping them with the knowledge to potentially save lives on the battlefield. RPs attend "C" school immediately after "A" school or upon receiving orders to a USMC unit as a Fleet returnee. Upon completion, RPs receive a Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) of A17A or basic combat specialist.
Upon reporting to their command, RPs are afforded the opportunity to attend additional schools with their units to meet mission requirements. These schools may include SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) school, jump school, or school of infantry.
Located at the NCS in Newport, RI, this 4-week course (2 weeks non-resident and 2 weeks resident) is designed for fleet returnees at the pay grade of E5 or E6, supervisory level. Here, RPs further hone their basic skills and delve deeper into the program manager aspect of the RP rating. They receive instruction on advanced subjects such as program management, contracting, public speaking, and instructing.
RP Rate Progressions
The duties and responsibilities of RPs vary by paygrade and duty station. Therefore, specific duties, responsibilities, skills, and knowledge are outlined in the RP Navy Occupational Standards. These standards specify tasks that demonstrate proficiency at each paygrade. Some of the duties and responsibilities outlined in the occupational standards and job descriptions are as follows:
Religious Program Specialist (E-1 through E-4)
Assist in facilitating religious ministry; support the care of service members and their families; advise the chaplain on morale, program planning, and execution; support the CRP with data collection, research, and analytics; and provide technical expertise on force protection requirements for RMTs in an expeditionary or combat environment.
Religious Program Supervisor (E-5 to E-7)
Assist in facilitating religious ministry; support the care of service members and their families; advise the chaplain; advise leadership on morale, program planning, and execution; support the CRP with data collection, research, and analytics; and provide technical expertise on force protection requirements for RMTs in an expeditionary or combat environment.
Religious Program Senior Supervisor (E-7 through E-9)
Assist in facilitating religious ministry; support the care of service members and their families; advise the chaplain and leadership on morale, program planning, and execution; support the CRP with data collection, research, and analytics; provide technical expertise on force protection requirements for RMTs in an expeditionary or combat environment; assess RMTs on the delivery of RM; advise the Chaplain Corps on manpower, personnel training and education; policy and programs.
Supervisory RP
The supervisory RP, the senior RP assigned to a command with multiple RPs, is responsible for supervising RPs assigned to subordinate commands. Serving as a leading petty officer or religious program manager
Fleet/Force/Region RP
RPs assigned to a fleet, force, type, or equivalent commander also serve as the Senior Supervisor RP. In this capacity, they assist the Senior Supervisory Chaplains in implementing the commander's Command Religious Program (CRP) and provide advice on various aspects of religious ministry, including manpower, personnel, professional development, training, and religious facilities.
Command Master Chief/Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) pf the RP Rating
The Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) of the RP rate acts as the Chief of Chaplains (COC) and Deputy COC's principal assistant, offering guidance on all matters concerning the RP Rate. In this role, the SEL oversees and coordinates RP leader support to align with the organizational objectives of the Navy and Marine Corps. Additionally, they provide counsel to senior enlisted leaders of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard on matters related to religion.
The idea of having a chaplain's specialist assigned to each ship with a chaplain aboard dates from 1878.
That year a committee of chaplains first made the recommendation to the Navy Department.
Although the Navy Department did not immediately adopt the recommendation, successive generations of chaplains gave their support to the idea.
From 1942 to 1945, the Navy introduced the Specialist "W" rating (the "W" standing for Welfare) to address the wartime requirements of Chaplains serving in World War II. A memorandum dated February 4, 1942, specified that this rating was limited "for Naval Reserve only," meaning it was designated for the duration of the war. At that time, Specialist "W"s were tasked with several responsibilities: performing clerical duties, playing piano and organ for worship services, serving as competent musical directors, refraining from serving as religious leaders (a principle upheld today for RPs), and being prepared to serve under any conditions, anywhere.
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 woman to be selected as a Specialist (W) and was subsequently assigned duty in November 1943 in the Nation's Capital. The first “WAVES” to attend the Chaplains School in June 1944 were recognized as highly motivated, dedicated, and conscientious students.
The first officially designated Specialist (W) 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 duty in the Office of the Chaplain at the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was recognized as a talented musician and choir director and contributed significantly to the success of the famed Great Lakes’ Bluejacket Choir.
Between April 1942 and August 1945, the Bureau of Naval Personnel selected 509 individuals for the Specialist (W) rating from a pool of 1,455 applicants. In February 1944, Alfred R. Markin was advanced to Chief Specialist (W), marking the first advancement to chief petty officer in this rating. Out of the 30 Specialists (W) advanced to chief petty officer, the majority were assigned to large training centers and various offices of district, force, and fleet chaplains.
Also in 1942, 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 Gunnery Sergeant, the equivalent of a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. Thirty-five members of 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.
In April 1948, the Navy introduced the Personnelman rating, which included the role of Chaplain's Assistant. From 1945 to 1979, the Yeoman rating supplied personnel in the Chaplain's Clerk specialty (YN 2525) to assist and support Navy Chaplains in delivering quality ministry. However, before a Yeoman could be assigned to a Chaplain, the Command Chaplain had to undergo a lengthy and thorough process to justify the need for a YN 2525 position. Consequently, establishing a permanent rating to support the Navy's Chaplains remained a key objective of the Chief of Chaplains.
After a 101-year pursuit, the establishment of a permanent Chaplain's assistant rating was realized on January 15, 1979, when the Secretary of the Navy approved the formation of the Religious Program Specialist (RP) rating. Stringent selection criteria were established, and personnel seeking lateral conversions from other ratings to the RP rating were required to undergo interviews and receive recommendations from Navy chaplains.
Between 2002 and 2004, a manpower proposal was put together that would merge the RP rating– along with CTA and LN – back into the Yeoman rating as a “right-sizing” and cost-cutting measure. Long-rumored to be on the verge of ending the rating, it was the RPs role with the Marine Corps and the Corps’ emphatic support of what RPs do that eventually spared the rating from this merger.
Religious Program Specialist 1st Class (FMF) Robert Page was awarded a Bronze Star with the Combat Distinguishing Device "V" for Valor, indicating direct combat involvement, for his actions near An Nasariya, Iraq, in March while supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11600