What does a great Battalion Chaplain look like?

CH (MAJ) (Join to see)

Chaps, I have seen a few in my time, both good and bad, but the best were always able to maintain the golden mean of being both a military officer and a man of faith.

But, in my humble opinion, this is what a real Battalion Chaplain looks like. Vince Capodanno has and will always be one of my personal heroes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_R._Capodanno

They look like a chameleon....one that can relate (and blrnd in) with everyone in the unit....my BN Chaplain played on the company intramural basketball team (he is in his 40's)...

Anyone who actually believes scripture, teaches from the Bible, lives it as a model, not just words but actions, and is Christ with skin on. Other than that they are wasting their life pretending to be something they're not and something people don't want or need. Just a straight forward no nonsense answer to the question. I hope that helps.

There's already a lot of good feedback on this post, so I'll keep it brief. Be accessible and share in the hardships. The best Chaplain I had was while I was deployed. His services were inspiring to the point that I looked forward to going to mass. I remember one of his sermons vividly to this day.

The worst Chaplain I've had wasn't accessible or there for the troops. I had a troop of mine who was on suicide watch and in a very dark place overall. He specifically asked to talk to the Chaplain. Our BN Chaplain was at a dinner with the BN staff and refused to even speak with him over the phone. The casual dinner with his boss was more important to him. It was a good day for everyone when he moved on and was replaced by someone else.

The best Bn Chaplain that I ever had the privilege of serving with was first and foremost right there with us. The most approachable person you're likely to meet and could turn ANYTHING into not necessarily a sermon, but a moral lesson. I had the honor of being in the room as he "preached" Dr. Seuss's "Horton Hears a Who!" to a room full of battle hardened Infantrymen and brought it back to a biblical point. I'm willing to bet that the majority of those guys were not normally going to be filling the pews of the Chapel on a regular or even semi-regular basis. But that day; they were on the edge of seats waiting to hear what the chaplain had to say next. And he did not disappoint. He brought them all to church, and taught them one of the lords lessons, and they were glad to hear it.

Chaplain Ed Choi

He was my BN Chaplain when we were in Baghdad 2006-2007. During that deployment he was awarded a CAB and a Purple Heart

http://bpnews.net/29307

At the risk of sounding like broken record, A great battalion Chaplain is one that is there when ever where ever. My current Chaplain is like that, I see him poking around during training more than I see my CO the entire drill. The commitment he has for being there for the guys is... I really can't think of proper word, I mean, he left his fathers funeral early so he could make it to at least part of drill.
Now that I have punched you in the feels I end on a funny note. My first experience with a Chaplain was a BCT, he came in and started talking about what a Chaplain does in this deep southern voice(think stero-type southern baptist preacher). We were horse shoes around him and I didn't catch his name, he turned around and when I saw it I first thought is was a joke his name was CH (CPT) Cross

Without a doubt, Chaplain Olson was the best Chaplain I ever had. Communication with the troops is key, and he was always around to speak with us. I had many Chaplains in my career who I only saw at ceremonies, and some perhaps monthly or less, garrison and deployments. While deployed, I saw Chaplain Olson at LEAST twice a week. In garrison, usually weekly. His teachings he conducted on the airfield while deployed ensured those of us who couldn't (or simply wouldn't) make it to the chapel still had spiritual support.

What does a great Battlion. Chaplain look like? My Dad.....

Our Chaplain in Iraq (2005-2006) was awesome. The man must have haunted the TOC because anytime we ever got into anything, from minor detonation to complex attacks, he was already there waiting for us when we got back, checking on us, talking to us. There was no question he loved the men and women he was charged with ministering to.