MCAS Beaufort -- The Chaplain Corps of the Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned naval officers. Their mission is to promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Navy Chaplains come from a variety of religious backgrounds; chaplains can be Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist. Chaplains are assisted by Navy enlisted personnel in the Religious Programs Specialist rating.
The mission of the Chaplain Corps is to provide religious ministry and support for service members, facilitate for all religious beliefs, care for all Marines, sailors and their families and advise commanders to assure the free exercise of religion, said Navy Cmdr. Dean Hoelz, the base command chaplain for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
Chaplains offer an array of special religious events to those they serve aside from church services including confirmations, first holy communions, baptisms memorial services and funerals and marriages. Chaplains also offer marriage counseling, crisis counseling, alcohol and drug counseling, Christian education, Bible studies, and in home visits.
It’s expected for chaplains to be out of the office and communicating with the service members, said Hoelz. This is when chaplains go into people’s work areas to see and learn about what they do, and give the Marines and sailors an opportunity to communicate with chaplains so they can ask questions, get advice or discuss their issues or how their day has been going.
“I’ve done the physical fitness test with Marines and ate at the chow hall with service members as a way to open up communication with them and discuss whatever might be going on in their lives,” said Hoelz. “People will not see me, if they don’t see me seeing them.”
Chaplains offer more than just church services they offer various opportunities to receive religious education and offer discreet counseling to assure that service members and their families are doing well.
To contact a chaplain call 228-7775.