<p>CWJones411 - What exactly does celebrating Christmas mean to you? Exchanging gifts? It's a religious holiday not a secular holiday (like Groundhog Day!) and people of other faiths with other beliefs don't celebrate the religious holiday of Christmas. They may partake in the spirit of Christmas (Whistle Pig please don't get mad at me for using that word!) but, believe me, they celebrate their own holidays, many of which don't occur in December and they don't get any days off of work or anything.
This sounds like everyone is trying to figure who won this game of 'rock, paper, scissor' - who has the overriding authority of a chaplain in the military? IMHO, it is whoever pays his/her salary - that's who calls the shots, makes the rules, etc.<br>
Try to think about this without the military aspect - think about a production line in a car factory - if your boss tells you to install the engine, you install the engine without defects. If you choose not to follow the directions, you risk getting your pay docked or even could get fired. If you don't like the work or the conditions of the work, you are free to leave and find another job that better suits you.</p>
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After a long battle over his right to pray in Jesus' name while in uniform, a U.S. Navy chaplain who was supposed to be discharged from the service on January 31 got a last-minute reprieve from a three-judge federal panel, allowing him additional time to appeal his termination.</p>
<p>An evangelical Navy chaplain says an 11th-hour miracle has allowed him to stay in the service at least another week in order to appeal the Navy's decision to fire him for disobeying an order by praying in Jesus' name while in uniform....
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<p>nurseypoo-
that is not how the chaplain corps works, at least not any i have met at the academy. they are officers first who desire to join the chaplain corps-often to their own detriment rank-wise. There was a chaplain here who was a SWO and a captain when he decided to join the corps. he was reduced in rank to a LT (that's how these things work apparently) and spent his time in the chaplain corps working back up to captain (obviously at an accelerated pace given his prior service.) i believe he was just made an admiral. a chaplain is not loaned out from their diocese or denomination: they are military officers who request a lateral transfer.</p>
<p>The Air Force chaplains may do it differently than the Navy chaplain corp. Every AF chaplain we've had has had the same experience. Maybe each service has their own rules.</p>
<p>wheelah,</p>
<p>I believe you are thinking of RDML Alan "Blues" Baker, Deputy Chaplain of the Navy and Chaplain of the Marine Corps. He graduated from USNA in 1978, completed 1 sea tour and 1 shore tour before joining the reserves in 1984, where he went to seminary school. He still maintained his rank at seminary, then advanced once he became a chaplain. Chaplain Baker is a great example of an officer, chaplain, and leader.</p>
<p>"Chaplain Baker is the first graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy or former Surface Warfare Officer to serve as a Chaplain Corps Flag Officer."</p>
<p>"In 2004, thirty years after arriving as a Plebe, Chaplain Baker returned to the United States Naval Academy as Command Chaplain, where he was responsible for religious support to the 4,300-member Brigade of Midshipmen as well as management of the Academy's historic chapels."</p>
<p>Bio via USMC.mil: <a href="https://138.156.230.184/GOSA/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=856&PERSON_TYPE=General%5B/url%5D">https://138.156.230.184/GOSA/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=856&PERSON_TYPE=General</a></p>
<p>Side note: Gen. John Allen, 79th Commandant of Midshipmen, 2002-2003, 1st Marine Commandant, has just been selected for Major General....that means in 4 years, he's advanced 2 ranks</p>
<p>Weelah! Good to hear from you again! </p>
<p>Jeez, woman! Don't stay away so long. We need you here. Jadler and Stallion can't do it all alone. :)</p>
<p>lol hey! yes they just unblocked this site on the yard i think: in any case i was just was able to get on. i'm checking in about 3 months before i become a 2nd class and get civvies and a car! i've come a long way from when my mom showed me this forum during my own application process. all you '11s, watch out! lol jk.</p>