From

US Defense Department Announces Rules for Appointment of Chaplains
Chaturbhuj N. Gidwani, Hindu Lay Leader, U.S. Army, Camp Foster Chapel,
Okinawa, Japan

July 22, 2004: The purpose of this article is to inform all American
religious organizations that the Department of Defense Directive (DODD)
Number 1304.19 of June 11, 2004 has been reissued with update policy
and responsibilities and is effective immediately. This update
continues the educational and ecclesiastical requirements for
appointing military chaplains.

It is Department of Defense (DoD) policy that the Chaplaincies of the
Military Departments:

1) Are established to advise and assist commanders in the discharge of
their responsibilities to provide for the free exercise of religion in
the context of military service as guaranteed by the Constitution, to
assist commanders in managing Religious Affairs, and to serve as the
principal advisors to commanders for all issues regarding the impact of
religion on military operations.
2) Shall serve a religiously diverse population. Within the military,
commanders are required to provide comprehensive religious support to
all authorized individuals within their areas of responsibility.
Religious organizations that choose to participate in the Chaplaincies
recognize this command imperative and express willingness for their
Religious Ministry Professionals (RMPs) to perform their professional
duties as chaplains in cooperation from other religious traditions.

I encourage various faith groups to seek recognition by DoD as
ecclesiastical endorsing organizations. There are Christian, Jewish,
Buddhist and Muslim chaplains in the American armed forces, but not yet
any Hindu chaplains. To be granted for DoD recognition, religious faith
groups sponsoring a chaplain shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Be organized exclusively or substantially to provide religious
services to a lay constituency.
(2) Possess ecclesiastical authority to grant or withdraw initial and
subsequent ecclesiastical certification.
(3) Present an applicant for appointment as a chaplain who meets the
qualifications.
(4) Provide to the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Board (AFCB) the name,
title, mailing address, and telephone number of the designated official
authorized to represent the organization to the Military Services.
Point of contact for AFCB is Chaplain, Colonel, Richard K. Hum, Tel.
703 697-9015.
(5) Agree to abide by all DoD and Military Department regulations and
policies concerning the qualifications and endorsement of clergy for
service as military chaplains.

For additional information contact the author, Chaturbhuj Gidwani, at
011-81-611-745-5217.