56M, Army Religious Affairs Specialist. Religious affairs specialist training began as the Enlisted Assistant Basic Course in 1950 at the Chaplain School then located at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. In 1996, the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School, including both officer and enlisted courses, moved to its present home at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Together, the chaplain and religious affairs specialist make up the Unit Ministry Team. The UMT provides religious support and advice to the commander. It is the duty and responsibility of the religious affairs specialist along with their Chaplain to tend to the spirit of each Soldier. While the chaplain is a non-combatant, the religious affairs specialist is responsible for the security of the team, and is fully trained in Soldier tasks and religious support matters.
