Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps

Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps
Incumbent: RDML Margaret G. Kibben since: May 14, 2010
First
Formation
Website	Official Website

The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps (CHMC) is a position always filled by the officer serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000.^[1] The CHMC oversees religious ministry in the Marine Corps which one Commandant of the Marine Corps defined as "a vital function which enhances the personal, family, and community readiness of our Marines, sailors, and their families. Chaplaincy supports the foundational principle of free exercise of religion and helps to enrich the spiritual, moral and ethical fabric of the military."^[1]

The current CHMC is Rear Admiral (lower half) Margaret G. Kibben. She was sworn in on July 9, 2010 as the first woman to serve as Chaplain of the Marine Corps and Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains.^[2]

Assignment and responsibilities

Emblem, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps

The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy advises the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard "on all matters pertaining to religion within the Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard" -- but the Deputy Chief of Chaplains serves as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, "advising the CMC on religious ministry matters in reference to support, personnel, plans, programs, policies, and facilities within the USMC."^[3][4] Additionally, in the concurrent role of Navy Deputy Chief of Chaplains, the person holding this position is "Deputy Director of Religious Ministries," serving as the "principal assistant to the Chief of Chaplains."^[5]

Prior to 2000, when Rear Admiral Louis Iasiello became the first chaplain of flag rank to serve as Chaplain of the Marine Corps, that position was held by a senior Navy chaplain holding the rank of Navy Captain.^[1][6]

Marine Corps chaplain support

Navy chaplains support personnel throughout the Department of the Navy, which includes the Navy and Marine Corps,^[7] and also support personnel in the United States Coast Guard.^[8]

Uniforms

See: Uniforms of the United States Navy #Naval personnel attached to Marine Corps units

According to Chapter Six of the U.S. military uniform regulations, personnel assigned to the Marine Corps (including chaplains) have the option of wearing Marine Corps uniforms (and chaplains assigned to the Coast Guard may wear Coast Guard uniforms).^[9]

Chaplains of the U.S. Marine Corps

	Name	Photo	Term began	Term ended
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.	CAPT Eli Takesian		1982	1986
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.	CAPT Joseph R. Lamonde		April 1, 1998	August 2000
14.	RDML Louis V. Iasiello		August 2000	July , 2003
15.	RDML Robert F. Burt		July , 2003	June 22, 2006
16.	RDML Alan T. Baker		June 23, 2006	2009
17.	RDML Mark L. Tidd		August , 2009	May 13, 2010
18.	RDML Margaret G. Kibben		May 14, 2010	Incumbent

Prayers

See: United States Navy Chaplain Corps #Marine Prayer

See also

• Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
• Chaplain of the Coast Guard
• Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States
• International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference
• Military chaplain
• United States Army Chaplain Corps
• United States Air Force Chaplain Corps
• Chaplain's Medal for Heroism

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} www.marines.mil, retrieved May 12, 2011.
2. ^ www.marines.mil, retrieved May 12, 2011.
3. ^ Chaplain of the Marine Corps Stresses Importance of Family
4. ^ doni.daps.dla.mil, retrieved May 12, 2011.
5. ^ OPNAVINST 1730.1D, retrieved May 13, 2011.
6. ^ www.navy.mil, retrieved May 12, 2011.
7. ^ OPNAVINST 1730.1D, retrieved May 12, 2011.
8. ^ www.uscg.mil, retrieved May 12, 2011.
9. ^ www.usnst.org, retrieved May 12, 2011.