Religious Program Specialist (RP) Duty Description
RP Duty Description, E1-RPCM
Religious Program Specialists serve with Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint Services ashore and afloat in support of the Command Religious Program (CRP), Religious Ministry Team (RMT), and Professional Naval Chaplaincy (PNC). RPs operate in pluralistic environments to safeguard religious freedom, support the provision and facilitation of Religious Ministry (RM), and strengthen Spiritual Readiness (SR) for warfighters and their families. Duties include coordinating religious services, religious education, lay-led programs, outreach events, crisis response, memorial support, pastoral care scheduling, religious accommodation support, volunteer programs, confidential referral triage, and deckplate engagement. RPs collect and analyze CRP data, conduct Religious Needs Assessments, assess morale and religious needs, identify Spiritual Readiness gaps, and advise chaplains and command leadership on program effectiveness, operational requirements, and Quality of Life concerns.
RPs perform administrative, logistical, financial, supply, facility, contracting, and resource management functions for the CRP, including correspondence, rosters, schedules, religious documents, request forms, inventories, controlled equipage, religious gear, Religious Offering Fund support, budget planning, supply requests, chapel spaces, and audiovisual support. RPs develop and publish CRP informational materials, maintain confidential communication practices, coordinate local religious resources, support humanitarian and cultural events, and establish liaison with Religious Organizations, Non-Federal Entities, and community agencies as required. Senior RPs supervise CRP personnel and volunteers, train and mentor RMT members, manage subordinate CRP operations, evaluate program metrics, prepare plans and briefs, support mass casualty and crisis response planning, advise on religious and cultural factors in operations, and provide technical expertise on force protection requirements for RMTs operating in expeditionary and combat environments.
Short Version
Religious Program Specialists from E1 through Master Chief support, manage, supervise, and lead the Command Religious Program and Religious Ministry Team across Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint environments. They safeguard religious freedom, facilitate Religious Ministry, strengthen Spiritual Readiness, support chaplains, manage CRP administration/logistics/resources, conduct needs assessments, advise leadership, protect confidential communication, coordinate volunteers and religious programs, support crisis response and memorial honors, and provide force protection expertise for RMTs in operational and combat environments.
Sources: MyNavyHR NEOCS Religious Program Specialist PDF
General duty Religious Program Specialist assists the chaplain in administrative matters such as advising the chaplain on religious accommodation support requirements (dietary, supplies, spaces, etc.); compiles Command Religious Program (CRP) data (such as RNAs); enters CRP data in analytical tools; compiles CRP mailing lists; disposes of CRP religious items; drafts CRP literature, informational materials, and request forms (e.g. publicity, religious campaign communications, worship bulletins, chapel usage, etc.); drafts Religious Ministry (RM) After Action Reports and lessons learned; maintains CRP files; manages RM facilities and spaces (e.g. scheduling, maintenance, force protection, etc.); prepares CRP religious documents (e.g. baptismal certificates, wedding, certificates, confirmations, etc.); prepares and verifies CRP rosters and schedules; prepares upcoming religious, humanitarian, and cultural event materials; safeguards written and verbal confidential information; updates CRP literature, informational materials, and request forms (e.g. publicity, religious campaign communications, worship bulletins, chapel usage, etc.).