The Armed Forces Chaplains Board (AFCB) is an organizational entity within the United States Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

 established to advise the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

The Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, or USD is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the United States Department of Defense responsible for advising the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and...

 on religious, ethical, and moral matters, in addition to a number of policy issues affecting religious ministry and the support of the free exercise of religion within the military services. It is made up of the three Chiefs of Chaplains and three active duty Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Composition and leadership

The Chair of the AFCB is a position rotated among the three services, with the Chief of Chaplains appointed as Chair for a period of eighteen months. In addition a senior military chaplain holding the rank of O-6 (Army or Air Force Colonel or Navy Captain) serves as the AFCB Executive Director for a three-year term. According to the Department of Defense Instruction governing the Board, it is recommended that the Executive Director not be serving in the same branch of the Armed Forces as the current Chair, but not required.

Military chaplains of specific religious faiths may be appointed to serve as special consultants to the AFCB on issues concerning those faiths, and the Board may establish committees to conduct studies, make recommendations, "or otherwise assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities."

Policy advice

The AFCB is tasked to provide advice on issues including:

• Protection of free exercise of religion
• Procurement, professional standards, requirements, training, and assignment of military chaplains
• Religious support providers
• Procurement and utilization of supplies, equipment, and facilities for religious use
• Promotion of dialog with civilian organizations regarding religious issues
• Promotion of joint military endeavors for the delivery of ministry by the Military Services throughout the Department of Defense.

Executive director

The current executive director (staff) is: COL Thomas E. Preston (USA Chaplain).

See also

• Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States
  Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States
  In the United States armed forces, the Chiefs of Chaplains of the United States are the senior service chaplains who lead and represent the Chaplain Corps of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force...
  
  
• Military chaplain
  Military chaplain
  A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
  
  
• Chaplain
  Chaplain
  Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
  
  
• Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center
  Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center
  The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center is the center for training of United States military chaplains, located at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. Co-located on the AFCC campus are: the United States Army Chaplain Center and School, the United States Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, and...
  
  
• United States military chaplain symbols
  United States military chaplain symbols
  Religious symbolism in the United States military includes the use of religious symbols for military chaplain insignia, uniforms, emblems, flags, and chapels; symbolic gestures, actions, and words used in military rituals and ceremonies; and religious symbols or designations used in areas such as...
  
  

External links

• Joint Publication 1-05: Religious Affairs in Joint Operations. 13 November 2009. United States Joint Forces Command (lead agent and JS doctrine sponsor for this publication: Office of Religious Affairs)