The US Army chaplain assistant, military occupation (MOS) 56M, is a specially trained Soldier qualified to assist military chaplains in religious affairs. Religious affairs (JP 1-05, 2013) consist of religious support (direct pastoral care to friendly forces) and religious advisement (advisement offered to commanders on the impact of religion on military operations). When conducting counterinsurgency operations among a religious population, religious advisement can be mission critical. Chaplains are noncombatants with some restrictions on participation in operational activities; their enlisted assistants are combatants without any such restrictions. This paper discusses the author's personal experience as a counterinsurgent in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
US Army Chaplain Assistants and Counterinsurgency Operations
"Its easy, boys. All we have to do is follow my simple yet ingenius plan..."
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