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

We all have our duties to perform. I myself would not want the responsibility that they have to carry.

Treat them the same. But add chaplain’s Aid as another duty for the other soldiers to rotate through. Just like CQ and KP. Since on the weekend, except for a few on duty, most get the option of not going to chapel. Chaplains assistance don’t get to opt out of it.

When I returned from Vietnam in Feb 1968 I was assigned to a unique position, First Sgt of 5 units all at the same time at Fort Leavenworth Kansas. Hq Co USAG, Hq Det USACGSC, Air Field Det, WAC Det, and Engineer Det. I had 5 morning reports, 5 Company Clerks and over 550 enlisted personnel assigned or attached. We only needed one CQ, one Staff Duty NCO and one Day Room Orderly daily for the whole shebang. As soon as I learned that there were only 35 to 45 people pulling all three of these additional duties I knew what to do to raise the low morale. BUT, it seems almost every one was exempt from duty because they all worked in such "prestigious" jobs. Think of it, with 500 personnel to perform 3 additional duties would mean you would be lucky to get the duty every 1 or 2 years. I fought for several weeks badgering Department Heads ( Usually Major or higher) trying to increase the numbers on my Duty Roster. Finally, out of Desperation I requested permission to see the Base Commander, a 2 Star General. He listened to my tale of woe and to my surprise agreed with me that "all" qualified personnel should perform those duties and volunteered his Driver, a Sergeant First Class for Staff Duty NCO so no Department Director or Chaplain could justify their "Assistant" for Exemption of Duty. Within a week I could see the difference. Morale was going up quickly, Article 15s dropped to almost zero, and the Chaplains cheerfully let their faithful assistant go to pull one day a year CQ or Day Room Orderly. Less than a year later our group of 5 units were near the top in unit readiness for 5th Army. Also easily passed IG inspections the rest of my tenure as First Sgt until I retired in June 1971. Sometimes special treatment to certain individuals for no good reason can be hard on morale.

No one gets “Special Treatment”, from the lowest Private to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; every position has it’s positive and negatives and all are dependent on who’s view determines which it is. No position has a 9-5 five day a week job. If it really gnaws at someone, the old adage “Walk a mile in their shoes” comes to mind. Just because the CG doesn’t live on Field Exercises (although he probably has spent more time there than the average Soldier ever will); a Specialist did not have to testify before Congress, track thousands of occurrences that impact families, communities, the country, the world, ... As was said; if the grass seems greener; well it is up to you to find out, but be prepared when you find the grass is the same color just a different type. Just a little bit of advice, the civilian world is full of “Special Treatment” and there are fewer standards

They should got 'NO' special treatment... they volunteer for the opportunity..

Other individuals also times get some perks. It depends on what the job is, generally if you have done well during your duties prior to getting a differ duty like this one. Who is your Commander on down through the Chain and what they think of you. It can all add up. I played on the base Golf Team as an Alternate. I was the only Enlisted and had an extra locker for my Equipment, got time off for Practice Rounds, went to Tournaments as backup and usually a Caddy. I was able to play 2 times out of about 12 Tournaments, due to sickness and emergency leave for one of the other players. This was for 8 months. Other guys got perks for being on there Base Football or Softball Teams. There were others in the units that would bitch, complain but Rank above Ruled. This was before any wars were going on. But Chaplains have regs covering their needs., so they get who they need.

They like the Chaplains do more in others "OFF" time than most realize. Many times, the handle things that don't require a Chaplains input or attention. Yea, they should get some slack.

I think PVTs need to learn to just shut up, & work on being technically & tactically proficient in their own MOSs... Stop worrying about everyone else. Every job in the Army is important, & every job in the Army is different. Don't worry about them, just watch YOUR lane.

treated the same i had a chaplain assistant as a roommate in Germany

I’m a cook in the army and no one has an issue that I don’t pull cq, staff duty. It’s because if the nature of our jobs. Are hours aren’t like everyone else’s and there for we need to be ready. I haven’t meant a single person who cares that we don’t..