U.S. Army Chaplain's Constitutional Rights Violated
FORT BENNING, Ga., Dec.15, 2014 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Timothy Linzey releases the following and is available for comment:
In the United States Armed Forces, there are three types of special staff officers: 1) the Judge Advocate (JAG), 2) the medical doctor, and 3) the chaplain. These three officers enter the military with advanced degrees, and so come in at a higher rank than all other officers. No commander would dare tell a JAG how to do his job. No commander would dare tell a medical doctor how to do his job. Likewise, no commander has the authority to tell a chaplain how to do his job. These officers, as special staff officers on the commander's personal staff, are experts in their fields, and it is for them to tell the commander how they do their own jobs and what services the commander can expect from them.
Photo: A U.S. Army Ranger Instructor explains the technical aspects of rappelling from the 50-foot rock to his left, 2009. Courtesy of Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, U.S. Air Force. (RELEASED, hi-resolution available)
On November 20, 2014, the 5th Ranger Training Battalion (RTB), Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade (ARTB), United States Ranger School, Fort Benning, Georgia, conducted a mandatory Suicide Prevention Training seminar at the University of North Georgia in Dahlongega, Georgia. The commander of the 5th RTB is LTC Michael A. Scarpulla, headquartered at Camp Frank D. Merrill, Dahlonega, Georgia.
The mission of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion is to conduct the Mountain Phase of Ranger School in the vicinity of Camp Frank D. Merrill in order to produce Rangers whose primary mission is to close with and destroy the enemy in direct fire battle. As battalion commander, LTC Scarpulla oversees the Mountain Phase of the Ranger School. He also oversees all other training that occurs under his command to include the Suicide Prevention seminars.
The various RTB commanders are supervised by the ARTB commander. The commander of the ARTB is Colonel David Fivecoat. Each battalion is responsible for specific phases of the Ranger School. Colonel Fivecoat's supervisor is Maj. Gen. Austin S. Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at the Ranger School.
The battalion chaplain for the 5th RTB is Chaplain (CAPTAIN) Joseph Lawhorn. He is the advisor of morale, ethics, and religion as a special staff officer on the personal staff of his commander, LTC Scarpulla.
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