a. Major duties.
Religious Affairs Specialists shape the environment to accomplish the Commander’s Religious Support (RS) mission by providing technical expertise in religious support operations and the impact of religion on the unit and mission.
Religious Affairs Specialists fulfill the Chaplain Corps Mission in MTOE and TDA organizations by performing two primary capabilities (Religious Support Provider and Religious Support Staff Advisor) which are executed through three core competencies (Integrate Religious Support into Operations, Strengthen Spiritual Readiness, and Manage Religious Support Resources).
Religious Affairs Specialists integrate RS into the full range of military operations (ROMO) at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels.
The functions for Religious Affairs Specialist at each skill level are:
(1) MOSC 56M1O.
Soldiers serving at this level are primarily assigned to battalion level headquarters elements.
Synchronize RS within the ROMO.
Integrate RS into unit’s operations process.
Integrate the Unit Ministry Team (UMT) into a tactical element.
Coordinate force protection for RS operations.
Maintain situational awareness for the UMT.
Coordinate the military movement of the UMT.
Operate a tactical vehicle platform.
Operate communications equipment and digital reporting systems.
Assist in planning RS operations and deployments.
Maintain reports, files, and administrative data.
Coordinate RS in the absence of the chaplain.
Integrate religious operations with Civil Military Operations.
Research religious information to answer Commander’s Critical Information Requirements (CCIR).
Prepare religious area analysis.
Provide coordination, security, and analysis support to indigenous religious leader liaison operations.
Safeguard privileged communications.
Perform crisis intervention.
Coordinate Traumatic Event Management (TEM).
Conduct specialized peer counseling for combat stress casualties.
Conduct peer to peer counseling under the auspices of the chaplain.
Provide emergency RS for casualties.
Assess unit morale for targeted RS.
Manage RS resources to include property, ecclesiastical equipment, and section materials/supplies.
Plan and execute appropriated and non-appropriated budget for section.
Manage multi-purpose RS facilities and programs.
Coordinate RS for all faith groups.
(2) MOSC 56M2O.
Proficient with duties shown in previous level of skill and is primarily assigned to a battalion level headquarters.
Integrate UMT into tactical elements and directs small unit actions.
Supervise tactical vehicle platform operations.
Supervise RS facility staff and operations.
Train spiritual fitness tasks.
Analyze religious data and conducts religious civil military activities.
Assist in the development of RS planning.
Synchronize RS requirements with staff elements.
Coordinate for movement of the UMT by air, land, and sea.
Advise senior NCO leadership on RS issues.
Counsel and develop subordinates within technical channels.
(3) MOSC 56M3O.
Proficient with duties shown in previous levels of skill and is primarily assigned to a brigade level headquarters or generating force positions.
Lead subordinates in the execution of RS operations.
Plan, develop, and execute the UMT’s annual training plan.
Supervise communications and Operations Security (OPSEC) for RS operations.
Manage taskings for RS operations.
Develop the RS plan and synchronize RS in formations across the full range of military of operations.
Supervise subordinate UMT indigenous religions analysis process.
Conduct Traumatic Event Management (TEM).
Develop counseling skills in subordinates.
Train subordinates in UMT Tasks.
Supervise the establishment of multi-purpose RS facilities.
Proficient in the force structure development process.
(4) MOSC 56M4O.
Proficient with duties shown in previous levels of skill and is primarily assigned at installation and theater level.
Develop plans, orders, and annexes in support of Garrison, Division, Corps, and Theater RS operations.
Integrate personnel from other services into the full range of military operations.
Synchronize garrison support with operational RS requirements.
Collect, sort, and distribute religious analysis products.
Plan and supervise enlisted training.
Integrate, train, and validate USAR and ARNG RS personnel and equipment during mobilization.
Supervise implementation of spiritual fitness program.
(5) MOSC 56M5O.
Proficient with duties shown in previous skill levels and is primarily assigned at the operational level.
Plan, develop, and supervise UMT training for subordinate echelons.
Develop plans, orders, and annexes for operational and strategic RS in the ROMO.
Supervise religious data management.
Manage force structure and assignment processes.
Manage and update the Joint Manning Document and requisitions replacement for Joint Organizations.
(6) MOSC 56M6O.
Proficient with duties shown in previous skill levels and is primarily assigned at the operational and strategic level.
Serves as the subject matter expert on all aspects of RS and the primary advisor on policy development and is the analytical reviewer of regulatory guidance.
Recommends policy to Army Commands, DA and DOD for RS operations.
Shapes RS leaders through talent management efforts that develop NCOs through educational and training opportunities.
Promotes Chaplain Corps heraldry and history.
b. Physical demands rating and qualifications for initial award of MOS.
(Qualifications in subparagraphs 5 through 10 below are required for award or retention of MOS.)
A Religious Affairs Specialist must possess the following qualifications:
(1) A physical demands rating of Moderate.
(2) A physical profile of 222221.
(3) Qualifying scores. A minimum score of 90 in aptitude area CL on ASVAB tests.
(4) Credit for successful completion of 1 year or two courses in computer or keyboarding.
Waiverable by the 56M Chief, Career Management (Proponent SGM) with a minimum typing speed of 25 net words-per-minute.
(Proponent POC: [email protected])
(5) A security eligibility of SECRET.
Initial entry accessions must initiate a request for secret security eligibility before arrival to first unit.
(6) Must provide religious support to all religions.
(7) Is a combatant and will qualify with assigned weapon and bear arms.
(8) Must display character as determined by ADRP 1, FM 6-22, and the following criteria:
(a)
No pattern of undesirable behavior as evidenced by civil and military records.
(b)
No record of convictions by court martial or Field Grade Article 15 proceedings.
Field Grade Article 15 waiverable with approval from the Chaplain Corps Regimental SGM, Office of the Chief of Chaplains (OCCH).
(Proponent POC: [email protected])
(c)
No record of civilian conviction within the last 2 years other than minor traffic offenses.
(9) Must possess a valid state motor vehicle operator license.
(10) No record of conviction by special or general courts-martial or civilian courts of offenses listed in AR 27-10 (Military Justice), chapter 24, or otherwise required to register as a sex offender under AR 27-10, chapter 24.
(11) Formal training (completion of MOS 56M course conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School (USACHCS)) is mandatory.
Soldiers with prior service may qualify by completion of either the course at USACHCS or completing Phase 1 and 2 of the MOS 56M Re-Classification Course.
Phase 1 is Distance Learning and Phase 2 is a two week residence phase administered by the Army Reserve.
(12) MOS reclassification at SFC and above will be reviewed for validation of skills by the 56M Chief, Career Management (Proponent SGM) during the reclassification process.
(Proponent POC: [email protected])
(13) All prior MOS 56M Soldiers serving in another MOS who wish to reclassify back into MOS 56M will be reviewed for validation of skills by the 56M Chief, Career Management (Proponent SGM) during the reclassification process.
Requests from MSG and above will be elevated to the Chaplain Corps Regimental SGM, Office of the Chief of Chaplains (OCCH).
(Proponent POC: [email protected])
c. Additional skill identifiers.
(Note: Refer to table 12-8 for a listing of universal ASI’s associated with all enlisted MOS.)
(1) 1M—Emergency Medical Ministry (EMM).
(2) 7F—Chaplain Resources Manager.
(3) 7T—Funds Technician. (Effective 201910).
d. Physical requirements and standards of grade.
Physical requirements and SG relating to each skill level are listed in the following tables:
(1) Table 10-56M-1. Physical requirements.
(2) Table 10-56M-2. Standards of grade TOE/MTOE.
(3) Table 10-56M-3. Standards of grade TDA.