Office of the National Chaplain

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The history of the Office of the National Chaplain & National Chaplain Staff College:

The SGAUS National Chaplain Staff College was founded by Chaplain (BG) Charles E. Grooms (SC), SGAUS National Chaplain 1995-99. The NCSC proposal was presented and accepted at the 1996 SGAUS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California, and since has been implemented. Chaplain Grooms was re-appointed National Chaplain in 1997 at the SGAUS Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, and during that year he organized the operational structure of the Office of the National Chaplain under the National Chaplain Executive Committee (NCEC). Chaplain Grooms was re-appointed National Chaplain for 1998-99, BG Gerald R. Manning (VA) appointed 1999-2000, COL James Hammond (MD) 2000-2001, COL Harry W. Gabriel (OR) 2001-2002, LTC Robert Fogner (SC) 2002-2003, LTC Jeff Burnsed (GA) 2003-2004.

A.The National Chaplain Executive Committee (NCEC) (Revised 10/10/98):

In 1997 the National Chaplain, BG Charles E. Grooms organized and established the first NCEC, and appointed six chaplains to serve on the committee. At the 14^th Annual Meeting of the SGAUS in Puerto Rico on 10/10/98 the NCEC was revised to consist of seven chaplain members: three elected and four appointed. The three elected NCEC members will appoint the four chaplain members (the NCEC election/appointments will be conducted during the chaplain business meeting at the SGAUS Annual Meeting). The seven chaplains positions on the NCEC are:

1. National Chaplain:

The National Chaplain will be elected by the chaplains, and their choice will be recommended to the SGAUS President Elect for appointment as National Chaplain. NOTE: The SGAUS President reserves the privilege to appoint the National Chaplain. Recommendations will be just a recommendation!

• The National Chaplain is authorized as National Chaplain to make appointments, establish committees and assign task(s). They are:
• Advisor to the National Chaplain
• Public Information Officer (PIO)
• To appoint vacant position(s) on the committee
• Establish Standing Committees: Chairperson & Members

2. Deputy National Chaplain:

The Deputy National Chaplain will be elected by the chaplains and will be recommended to the SGAUS President as the National Chaplain Elect upon the completion of the National Chaplain’s year in office.

3. NCEC Secretary/Treasurer:

The NCEC Secretary/Treasurer will be elected by the chaplains.

4. Four NCEC Committee Members:

The three elected NCEC Members will appoint four chaplains to fill the positions as members of the NCEC.

B. The election of the NCEC members will be conducted by the democratic voting process following the Robert’s Rules of Order. The majority vote will be accepted and respected. The NCEC will be completed on Friday of the SGAUS Annual Meeting, and the Standing Committees and its members, the Advisor to the National Chaplain and the Public Information Officer will be named no later than the following Saturday.

C. Chaplain Activities During Membership Year, but not limited to:

The Chaplain activities that are worked on during the membership year by the NCEC members are the following, but not limited to:

1. National Chaplain Executive Committee task assignment;
2. Follow up on correspondence & chaplain inquiries;
3. Plan the Mid-Year Chaplain Workshop;
4. Write news articles for the Quarterly SGAUS Journal;
5. Review & make suggestions to the SGAUS Web-Page related to chaplain items;
6. Special Task: Chaplain Chapter Study & Research Task Force;
7. Plan the National Chaplain Staff College: scheduled classes & instructors, coordinate classroom space, prepare certificates, diplomas, & ribbons, review required training hours of participants and related items.
8. Other chaplain related items as directed by the national Chaplain;

D. Chaplain Functions During the SGAUS Annual Meeting, but not limited to:

The chaplain functions that are handled during the SGAUS Annual Meeting, but not limited to are:

1. The National Chaplain will prepare & distribute Annual Chaplain Agenda, schedule chaplains to take part in ALL chaplain required events planned invocations, blessings & Memorial Ceremony.
2. Conduct the Memorial Ceremony;
3. Plan & coordinate the Religious Services for all denominations present (Catholic, Jewish & Protestant);
4. Elect & submit National Chaplain recommendations to the SGAUS President.; elect and appoint chaplains to the NCEC; appoint Advisor to the National Chaplain, appoint Public Information Officer;
5. The National Chaplain will appoint the Standing Committees, name the chairpersons and appoint chaplain member to the committees.
6. Review/revise the National Chaplain Staff College;
7. Review the qualifications for chaplains for membership of the NCEC:
   (a)hold ministerial credentials in a recognized religious body registered with the DOD;
   (b)must be ordained;
   (c)must be a member of the SGAUS;
   (d)must be a member of a State Chapter of the SGAUS (waiver if there is no State SGAUS Chapter)
8. All chaplain must have his resume on file with the Office of the National Chaplain prior to being considered for holding a position on the NCEC.
9. The SGAUS President has the privilege of appointing the National Chaplain. The NCEC will recommend their chaplain choice of National Chaplain & National Chaplain-Elect to the SGAUS President on Friday of the SGAUS Annual Meeting.

E. The National Chaplain Executive Committee - 2002-03, the appointments and standing committees are:

• National Chaplain - Chaplain (LTC) Jeff Burnsed (GA)
• Deputy National Chaplain - Chaplain (LTC) Hugh Canter (MD)
• NCEC Secretary - Chaplain (MAJ) Marcus L. Taylor (TN)
• Treasurer – Chaplain (COL) Larry Ager
• NCEC Members:
• Chaplain (MAJ) Walter Gelinas (AK)
• Chaplain (CPT) E. David Laikind (MI)

Standing Committees - 2002-03

Staff College Planning & Continuing Education

o Chaplain (COL) James Hammond, Chairman

o Chaplain (LTC) Jeff Burnsed (GA)

o Chaplain (MAJ) Anthony Fox (GA)

o Chaplain (MAJ) Hugh Canter (MD)

Awards, Memorial Ceremony & Chaplain Activities

o All Chaplains with rank of Colonel

Historian

o Chaplain (BG) Charles Grooms (SC)

Chaplain Emeritus

o BG Charles Grooms (SC)

National Chaplain Council

o BG Gerald R. Manning (VA)

o COL James Hammond (MD)

o COL Harry W. Gabriel (OR)

o COL Robert Fogner (SC)

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