What are you opinions on Chaplain Assistants getting "Special Treatment" from their units?

When come to God mission and duty, I never question it. Message received and understood.

Don't worry about what other people are doing. Worry about yourself and yourself alone.

Chaplains and Assistants in most cases are not regular soldiers just like Medics and Cooks they have a specific function within the service and should not be used as you would a regular soldier every other class of soldier is defined as a combat application. Medics Chaplains and Cooks are there to serve the needs of the soldiers as such combat or no they always have something to be doing specifically related to their MOS. While combat MOS's just have to maintain a state of readiness which in most cases is just busy work such as PT Combat training, Guard duty, Staff duty, inventory, Maintenance, Etc. these people are busy already setting up services and conducting services, hearing confessions, counseling soldiers. so yes I believe they should get the "Special Treatment" as you call it of doing their job. However with all that said, dont let them sit on their ass either they better be working!

Being a CA for 25 years, I think I've seen it all. Chaplains need to have you available at any moment, and I know it can be difficult sometimes, but also be available to soldiers and identify with them, and NOT someone special. You still have to do what is required of you as a soldier in the unit. The Chaplain and you, need to get with the command, when you first get to the unit and layout what Chaplain's Assistants do and what is required by the Chaplain, otherwise you are looked at, as having a "cake job" and a "slacker." In my experience, I sometimes had CQ/Staff Duty during the week.

Interesting question. And though this would be an NCO issue here's my two cents without looking at the governing regs: What are their normal duties like? Working weekends (or nights) is nothing unusual for most Soldiers. Unless they are subject to some other duty that others aren't, it may be a hard sell. Then again, once upon a time I was exempted from CQ Runner duty over the winter months because I was playing hockey for the UN Command hockey team in Korea. :)

I was a 91B working in WBAMC (hospital) and a friend of mine from the 11th Cav was in an ADA battery when we were at Ft. Bliss. His room mate complained one day that it was unfair that I didn't have to go to daily formations and do all the stuff that they had to do in a line unit. The friend of mine politely said, "He may not have to do all the things we do, but he works almost every weekend and holiday."

Just because you do not see what someone does everyday doesn't mean you should instantly judge them on what you do see. There are trade offs. Think about that when you are off on a Sunday and the CA has had to work 10 days in a row.

Given that they are typically on a duty roster at the Garrison level along with their chaplian for chap lot related duties having them on a da6 for the company just causes more issues. What happens when you're supposed to be on chapel duty the day after you pull a 24?

When I was in in 1986 - 1992 you were exempt from all duty if you were a mail clerk, either unit of APO/FPO.

There are jobs that are exempt from duty; if you want to be exempt gain the skills for one of those jobs. Otherwise, STHU, and do YOUR duty.

You need to consider the nature of the MOS. Chaplain assistants have to be available any time the chaplain is needed. Sadly most issues that chaplains attend to don't tend to happen between 9 and 5. No, most family issues happen after hours, as do most emergencies. Also, to put the CA in staff duty/CQ is effectively reducing the UMT by 50% for 2 days. All other duties can be done so long as it is first cleared with the chaplain.

My assistant was with me about every time we did marriage counseling at a Soldiers home and when conducting hospital visitation. My CA may not have been doing hard labor but he worked long hours, all of the time.

I think the system works the way it needs to.

Why in the world would you single out the poor Chaplain's Assistant? There are many people in any given battalion that are ED (exempt from duty). There are perfectly good reasons for it that you will be able to determine for yourself with just a minor effort. Bottom line is that the commander can and will exempt any Soldier he/she deems necessary from duties. There are so very few Chaplain's Assistants in the Army that their absence from the duty roster isn't even a blip on the radar. Not to mention they have to be available to the Chaplain 24/7/365. Find something else to focus on, brother.