56M out there?

[s12eaton]

Are there any 56m (Chaplain Assistants) out there. I'm thinking about this MOS but would like more info on it. How school was, duties at weekend drill, duties while on deployment, etc...

[almostsoldiergrl]

thats what my MOS is but i haven't went to BCT yet. I'd like to know some of the same info.

[shutterm4]

Hey, i just completed 56M training at Fort Jackson on May 16th. If you have any questions, feel free to PM them to me. As far as drill goes, i don't really have experience with that but i can answer question about the position and how it operates within a normal battalion. I enjoyed Ait. So feel free to contact me with whatever you want to know.

Your duties in general are to provide religious support to your battalion. The Unit Ministry Team operates at the battalion level and provides support for all of the companies within that battalion. A UMT consists of 2 People, the 56m and the Chaplain, and it is their job to make sure that all the soldiers are taken care of. You will be working along side captains and above. It's an interesting position because as a private you are thrust into a battalion level position, so you need to be professional about what you do.

Spiritual readiness on the battle field has been equated to resiliency. If a soldier is right spiritually they are more likely to succeed and survive in the battlefield. As a 56M its your job and the job of the Chaplain to make sure that people are getting that religious support so they can operate to the best of their ability. A 56M does alot of planning and logistics to make sure that the services are able to happen. It's also your job to set up for all the different services you may have in the chapel.

A 56M is a Chaplains Assistant, not an Assistant Chaplain. It is not your job to provide the spiritual support, it is your job to make sure that the support is available.

[qcomer]

What was AIT Like? I am also going into the position in the CA Guard. I am prior service though, so im not sure how much different my AIT would be.

[shutterm4]

The only difference with your AIT will be where you stay. If you are reclassing, you stay in a whole different barracks, and once ou get off school you have the rest of the day to yourself. AIT was great and our MOST's were awesome(that would be people like you who are reclassing). The class were good and they make all the informationa available to you online so that after you leave you have acess should you need it. All of the instructors at the United States Army Chaplain Center and School (USACHCS) are great and will do their best to make sure that you are learning the material. They go as far to give out their emails at the end of the course so that you can contact them if you have questions after you leave.

The training at times was a little bit boring, but if you stay with it, it will pay off. The classes talked about confidentiality, how to prvide religious support, how to secure and offering, and many other topics that are relevant to your job. Week 5 you go out into the field and you use more of the basic soldier skills and applying them to the MOS of a 56M.

[blacksan]

shutterm4,

PM on the way and appreciate your feedback.:D

[dmant43]

Im very interested in this MOS but I want to know (if there is any) what is combat like with this MOS as a 56M? Does it involve more fighting as a regular infantry soldier, or is it more less than that, or is there any fighting as a Chaplain Assistant at all?

[mak327]

This is my fiance's MOS. Someone else has already answered about AIT, so I'll skip that, but as for his drill, he doesn't do much. Since his unit doesn't have an assigned chaplain, he pretty much runs errands and does busy work for others in the unit, but if you have a chaplain assigned to your unit, then obviously you're working with him/her on your drill weekends.

[shutterm4]

Im very interested in this MOS but I want to know (if there is any) what is combat like with this MOS as a 56M? Does it involve more fighting as a regular infantry soldier, or is it more less than that, or is there any fighting as a Chaplain Assistant at all?


No, it does not involve fighting like an infantry soldier, and you are not a chaplains body guard, dont believe that common misconception. You are a religious support provider, and the force protection MANAGER. Chaplains rarely leave the base in a combat zone simply because to provide religious support the first thing you have to do is stay alive, so command doesnt like a chaplain to go on missions that could compromise their life.

Spiritual wellness can be equated to resiliency, and if soldiers are unable to be kept spiritually well it affects unit effectiveness. No more fighting then infantry. If you want to be infantry, do it. This is a relatively boring MOS.

[dmant43]

I see. Thank you for answering me shutterm4, now I fully understand my duties if I get this MOS. Thank you