Military chaplains will no longer display rank, Hegseth says
FILE - A chaplain reads from a book of prayer during an observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced several reforms for military chaplains this week.
Military chaplain reform
Big picture view:
Military chaplains typically provide worship services within the defense department. As ordained clergy and commissioned officers, they minister from their specific tradition, but provide spiritual care to troops of any faith or no faith.
What they're saying:
Hegseth announced two reforms in what he has described as "making the chaplain corps great again."
He wants chaplains to focus more on God and less on therapeutic "self-help and self-care."
In recent years, the military has become increasingly dependent on chaplains to help address the growing numbers of troops in mental health distress.
Dig deeper:
In a video message, he said chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform but instead be identified by religious insignia.
He argued the move would remove "unease or anxiety" service members have about approaching officers for spiritual care.
He also said the military is reducing the number of faith codes, or religious affiliations, that it recognizes.
By the numbers:
The military will now use 31 religious affiliations, down from more than 200, which included many small Protestant denominations as well as identifications for Wiccans, atheists and agnostics.
RELATED: Hegseth prays for violence during Pentagon Christian service
Religion in the military
The backstory:
The military is religiously diverse, and nearly 70% of troops identify as Christian, The Associated Press reported, according to a 2019 congressional report.
Nearly a quarter of troops were listed as "other/unclassified/unknown," with small percentages of atheists/agonistics, Jews, Muslims and adherents of Eastern religions.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the Department of Defense, also referred to now as the Department of War, and from a public video message on Pete Hegseth’s social media. Background information was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.