Congratulations on your appointment to the United States Naval Academy!
Our Religious Ministry Team stands ready to assist and support you as you begin this exciting phase of your life. The Command Religious Program at the Naval Academy plays an active role in the lives of interested Midshipmen during Plebe Summer and throughout the Academic Year. Each battalion is assigned a chaplain to help support the moral and spiritual needs of the Midshipmen within that battalion, and to provide a listening ear and an encouraging presence that is always available. Chaplains offer a unique position to Midshipmen as the only person who by regulation must maintain absolute confidentiality.
Chaplains care for all - regardless of faith, creed, and preference - including general supportive counseling, crisis intervention and moral guidance in difficult times. Chaplains provide religious services to those of the same faith background. Additionally, if a chaplain of the same faith group is not available, chaplains facilitate religious observance and practice for Midshipmen.
During the course of a normal week in the Academic Year, you will have a variety of opportunities to maintain your spiritual fitness, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian services on Sundays, Muslim Jumah and Jewish Kabbalat Shabbat services on Fridays, various Religious Extracurricular Activities on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and special events.
The Department of the Navy promotes a culture of diversity, tolerance, and excellence. You will be exposed to a wide variety of religious expressions from both chaplains and other service members. It is Department of the Navy policy to foster mutual respect for diverse religious expressions, which includes accommodating as many of them as possible at the command level.
Department of the Navy policy is to accommodate the doctrinal or traditional observances of the religious faith practiced by individual members when these doctrines or observances will not have an adverse impact on military readiness, individual or unit readiness, unit cohesion, health, safety, discipline, or mission accomplishment. Accommodation of a member's religious practices cannot be guaranteed at all times and is subject to military necessity. Determination of necessity rests entirely with the commanding officer. Members seeking religious accommodation must submit their request in writing through their chain of command to their commanding officer. All requests for accommodation of religious practices will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The Religious Ministry Team is here to serve you. We are praying for you and your families and look forward to welcoming you!
Very respectfully,
Jeffery B. Jenkins
LCDR, CHC, USN
Plebe Summer 2016 Regimental Chaplain