From the article: Army Enlisted Job Descriptions and Qualification Factors
Have you ever been assigned to a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) in MOS Field 56 - - Religious Services? If so, tell us what it was like. Did you love your job? Did you hate it? What was your average day like? Share Your Experiences
Sergeant
- To whom my concern I am looking to getting reclass as a 56m I am ready 88m and 91b but I am looking to learning how to servece the soldiers but providing some religion service.
- —Guest SGT Benitez Cristobal
Yeah....
- 56M there are a lot of things i could say about this MOS, and most of them bad. I was in the army reserves for 4 years, and it was ok....even though i didnt have a chaplain, but i just switched to active duty, and i just want to say TRADOC completely blows. This was the wrong MOS field for me, dont sign up to be a chaplain's assistant if youre not religious and anti social. Here on FT_______ they make a big deal out of little un-important things. If i had a choice i would go back and either stay in the reserves or change my MOS, because this MOS is almost unbearable. There is only one good thing about this MOS and that is no extra duty, and dont even think about making SGT promotion point requirements are through the roof.
- —Guest The SPC
56M So far...
- I Enlisted in the US ARMY on Sep 11th 2008 in Seattle, WA, when to BCT on Feb 2nd 2009 in Ft. Jackson SC, started AIT at Ft. Jackson on May 3rd Honors Graduate, my first duty station is CP Casey S. Korea. I am almost 3 months away from going back to the States, I cannot wait. Serving a Chaplain may be difficult at time, especialy when he/she has no backbone to stand up for you when it comes to your 1SG tasking you out with como, cburn, supply, s1, wep guard, coms, extra duty, sandbag detail and battalion xo driver all within 3 weeks. BS anyways don't listen to other soldiers or leaders when thay say you do nothing and that you are a shammer, cause you are not. We work every Sunday. so we technically only have fri night and sat off. we get tasked out with everyone when it says in our SOP that we are not allowed to. We sacrifice our lives to protect another, we save soldiers lives from suicide everyday it seems. So I am proud to say that I am a 56M...SPC JOBOBUS OUT!
- —Guest Jobobus
Chaplain Assistant Experiences-'76-'94
- Readers: I stumbled onto this site while researching and building a resume, focusing mainly on my military experiences as a Chaplain's Assistant from 1976 through 1994, finalizing my career after Operation Desert Storm. While on active duty my assignment locations were Basic: Ft. Dix, NJ, AIT: Ft. Wadsworth, SI. NY, 1st Assignment: Ft. Sill, Ok., 2nd Assignment: HHQ, 2nd Inf. Division, Camp Casey, Korea. 3rd Assignment: Ft. Benning, GA. Released from Active Duty 1976 and continued with Reserves until 1994 where I received a Honorable Discharge. Over the years I have assisted hundreds of chaplains in charge of the smallest unit chapel to large Division and Group Chaplains Offices. As most Assistants know, you have good and bad chaplains out there. The key for success Assistants to rememeber is that you are called to serve by a higher authority and are part of a team approach. Replys are welcome at 120406newstart@comcast.net or http://www.hubpages.com/hub/kraftwood cabinets
- —lcecil
Ah the Life of a Chaplains Assistant
- I was a chaplains assistant trained at Fort Jackson SC. I worked for an Army Reserve Unit and it was a blast. Working with the unit ministry team is a lot of fun. When you go out to the field, you get to share spiritual things with others, and the old gruff dogs try and throw things out there to trip you up. Depending upon the type of chaplain you serve under will determine your experience. Because my unit was reserve we were split into three cities and the chaplain would move around at drill time. When he was at one location, I would be at another. But head these words, if the Chaplain isn't there, you are the first one to get called on by the C.O. to do the cruddy jobs. Make sure you are good in a four wheel drive and know your directions. Chaplains are clueless when it comes to directions, I guess they are always looking up! Ha! I have 4 MOS's and and chaplains assistant is my favorite. Good luck in your endeavors and do your best!
- —Guest Specialist From God
Its a fine day to be a 56M!
- "Its a find day to be a 56 Mike, every day is a fine day to be a mighty Mike! HOOAH!!" I just graduated from 56M school.Its at Ft. Jacksons, United States Army Chaplains School. "USACHCS lead the way!" I graduated 26June2010 and its a career that sets you apart from everyone else. You are an enlisted soldier who deals with officers all the time, so dont be intimidated. This MOS is great, you learn alot of skills, its intense to say the least and yes that is very understated. The training is almost 7 weeks and you learn what a Unit Ministry Team (UMT)is and does as well as how when deployed you & and your chaplain transform into the Religious Support Team (RST) is & how your mission impacts your fellow soldiers spirtual needs .Your role is not to provide religious support to other soldiers, you are a Chaplains Assistant not an Assistant Chaplain.The things you learn are how to write memos,how to brief commanding officers,conduct a memorial cermony & how to do the RAIA, Its awesome!DO IT
- —Guest Mighty Mike
Sarge
- Relative to my post-active duty experience with the Chaplaincy...I have developed a somewhat jaded view of this otherwise fine troop support mechanism. I have formed the opinion...fair or not fair...that the Chaplaincy is available, not necessarily based on the Soldiers' needs, but on the Chaplaincy being moved to act on the Soldier's behalf. In short, my views of the Chaplaincy, following this event, took a nose dive. I have known many fine Chaplains, all on active duty. If a Chaplain is to have "limited office hours" while not mobilized, perhaps this should be made known to the troops.
- —Guest Sarge
Sarge
- Having returned from a year's deployment to "Adventure Land", the Guard unit in which I was serving had recently reverted to drill status. One of my men was experiencing a problem for which he requested Chaplaincy intervention. Unfortunately, our Chaplain was not on-site that particular drill. In-as-much as Soldier problems do not dissolve with the passing of a drill weekend, the Soldier agreed that, after I would contact...with command approval... the full-time AGR Chaplain at state hq, he would visit the Chaplain. After several fruitless attempts at contacting the Chaplain...unanswered calls, too busy, etc...I was embarrased to have to call the trooper to relay the news of what appeared to be a rather disinterested religious support mechanism. While the Soldier was of a devout religious nature, I could not, in all honesty, claim equal adherence. However, the nature of his issues, in my military mind, could be addressed from the standpoint of "NCO Crustiness"...which it was.
- —Guest Sarge
The MOS of 56M
- The Army MOS of 56M (Chaplain Assistant) is a great and rewarding field. Just be sure that you have a desire to work as a servant for the other soldiers. The reason being is you have to provide the religious support for the troops. This consists of long hours, not having holidays off, and many times takes you away from you family. I would recommend the MOS for the Single soldier. I am currently serving in Iraq and you have to be willing and exceptionally trained in your warrior tasks and drills. The Chaplains life depends on you and your situational awareness. This is a very rewarding field but isn't for everyone.
- —Guest NG CA
The MOS of 56M
- The Army MOS of 56M (Chaplain Assistant) is a great and rewarding field. Just be sure that you have a desire to work as a servant for the other soldiers. The reason being is you have to provide the religious support for the troops. This consists of long hours, not having holidays off, and many times takes you away from you family. I would recommend the MOS for the Single soldier. I am currently serving in Iraq and you have to be willing and exceptionally trained in your warrior tasks and drills. The Chaplains life depends on you and your situational awareness. This is a very rewarding field but isn't for everyone.
- —Guest NG CA
Security Clearance
- SECRET Clearances are now mandatory for all 56Ms. No exceptions.
- —Guest Matt
Former Chaplain Assistant
- I served in the Army from 1987-88, as a Chaplain Assistant. Back then it was listed as 71M, instead of 56. I enjoyed my time in the service and it was a learning experience. I entered right out of High school at the age of 19. It was my first time of being that far from home. I has Basic training at Fort Dix with perfect scores, AIT at Fort Monmouth Honor graduate, and was stationed at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. I was not in for long but I am proud of having served the time that I did, for my country. I wish some things had happened differently, but I have grown a lot since then. All of the situations have helped make me the person I am today. May God bless you and God bless America. Thanks, Philip Grimes, former PFC Grimes
- —Guest Philip Grimes
