Tag Archives: Navy

US Military Chaplains Visit African Leaders

A group of US military Chaplains recently visited east Africa to “strengthen relationships between the American people and Muslim communities.”

The Chaplains were Navy Capt Rob Young, Air Force Capt Walid Habash, Air Force LtCol Gary Snyder, and Army Col David Colwell.  Habash is an Islamic Chaplain, making him particularly interesting to the local communities.

The article highlighted the potential role of Chaplains beyond service to American servicemembers:  Read more

Army to Get Second Buddhist Chaplain

According to the University of the West, a Buddhist-founded university near Los Angeles, US Army First Lieutenant Somya Malasri will soon be the Army’s second Buddhist Chaplain (behind Chaplain (Lt) Thomas Dyer).

The Navy also has a Buddhist Chaplain; Chaplain Shin is currently deployed to Afghanistan and has been hosting Buddhist services there.

Shin also reported, courtesy of Chaplain Dyer, the Chaplain candidacy of the next Buddhist Chaplain for the US Army, 2LT Christopher Mohr.

Navy Begins Training in T-6B

A recent Navy news release notes the beginning of “naval aviator” (ie, pilot) training in its new T-6B.  The Navy has had the T-6A for some time, but only recently acquired the upgraded version.

The T-6 Texan II program was intended to be a joint effort between the Navy and Air Force to develop a common pilot training aircraft.  In fact, the development program was even entitled the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS).

After receiving 47 T-6As, however, it appears the Navy has decided to obtain the rest of its fleet as T-6Bs, which have flat screen displays, advanced avionics, a HUD, and advanced controls.  It will ultimately fly over 300 T-6 airframes.  The Air Force, which has no current plans to acquire the T-6B, will have approximately 450 T-6As.

Soldiers Get High-Powered, High-Tech Toys

While the Air Force is often maligned for its reliance on technology, it is far from the only service to do so.  US Navy vessels boast some of the most advanced technology in the world on several fronts, and the US Army is no slacker either.  A recent report noted that Special Forces will soon be fielding the XM-25.

The XM-25 is a 25mm projectile rifle that uses a computed sight to determine the range to the target; it then programs the projectile to airburst above Read more

Air Force Chaplains will be Missed

An article at the Stars and Stripes talks about the impact to Airmen due to the Air Force’s decision to reduce the number of Chaplains (previously noted).

Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, Air Force chief of chaplains, said he understands the need for force-shaping, but laments trimming chaplains during wartime.

“We’re fully engaged in the desert,” he said, “and we’re fully engaged stateside.”

Interestingly, the Air Force has a mandated increase of “mental health positions” at the same time it is cutting Chaplains.  Also, the Army is actually increasing its number of Chaplains, and it already has a 350-1 Chaplain-to-Soldier ratio, while the Navy expects to increase its number of Chaplains from its current 700-1 ratio (compared to 785-1 in the Air Force).  As previously noted, Chaplains in some Air Force units are already stretched thin.

First Top Female Marine Chaplain Announced

The DoD announced that US Navy Captain Margaret Kibben, who was recently selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (lower half), will be the new head Chaplain for the US Marine Corps:

Capt. Margaret G. Kibben…will be assigned as chaplain of the Marine Corps/deputy chief of Chaplains/deputy director of Religious Ministries, N097B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Kibben is currently serving as executive assistant to the chief of Chaplains, Washington, D.C.

Kibben is apparently a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and represents the Presbyterian Church (USA).  She has also been a Chaplain at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Also noted at the Navy Times.

USNA Superintendent Wants to End Cadet Tradition

According to the Military Times, US Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler has expressed displeasure with the decades old tradition of “freshmen” midshipmen climbing the Herndon monument.  The annual climb is the symbolic end of the plebe year.

The article does specifically say Fowler is not canceling the event, though he anticipates that “risk management” will eventually lead to its demise.

The article contains a fairly detailed description of the climb, as well as its history.

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