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Role of military chaplains

Division A · Title V: MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY · Subtitle A: Officer Policy and Reserve Component Management

Plain-language summaryAI

Military chaplains in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force are allowed to provide counseling on emotional, moral, behavioral, and other non-spiritual matters. Communications between these chaplains and service members are protected as privileged.

AI-generated from this section’s text — a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full text below. Not legal advice.

Section Text · Sec. 508.
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(a) In general

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure—

(1)

a covered military chaplain is able to provide pastoral counseling, including emotional, moral, or behavioral assistance counseling;

(2)

a covered military chaplain is able to provide pastoral counseling with respect to matters not strictly related to spiritual counseling; and

(3)

that privileged communications between covered military chaplains and members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force are protected.

(b) Covered military chaplain defined

In this section, the term covered military chaplain means a chaplain in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force.