The US Navy recently revamped its uniform program — again — in a move that was largely unnoticed but by those who have been critiquing the US military’s hunt for a long-term uniform over the past few years. As the issue was largely ignored, missed also was the substantial impact to US Navy chaplains.

It seems the Navy’s current versions of camouflage uniforms didn’t authorize a Chaplain’s insignia — meaning it was impossible for average Sailors to easily identify their chaplains:

“The fact you couldn’t identify a chaplain by his or her religion immediately on site [sic] was something the Navy Chaplain Corps requested to fix…Allowing sailors to identify their chaplains and to know their [religious affiliation] was extremely important and the Uniform Board has agreed.”

Truthfully, the change is probably useful for combat situations as well, where a captured chaplain (actually, “retained”) would be more likely to be treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions if he were clearly identifiable.

Still, it is noteworthy the value the chaplaincy and the Navy itself put on the importance of a Sailor being able to identify a chaplain — and the chaplain’s religion — easily.

US military chaplains play an important role in ensuring the human liberty — protected by the Constitution — of religious freedom of US troops. They and the Navy agreed its important to know who they are — and who they represent.

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