RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 0141940-UUUU--RUCRNAD
ZNR UUUUU
R 141940Z JAN 09
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N097//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N097//
UNCLAS //N01730//
NAVADMIN 013/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N097/JAN/09// 
SUBJ/RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST (RP) RATING 30TH ANNIVERSARY// 
RMKS/1.  RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS WILL MARK THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY 
OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THEIR RATING ON 15 JANUARY 2009.  I TAKE THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR UNWAIVERING SUPPORT OF SAILORS, 
MARINES AND FAMILIES FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
2.  VITAL MEMBERS OF THE RELIGIOUS MINISTRY TEAM, RPS ARE 
PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED TO ACCOMMODATE RELIGIOUS REQUIREMENTS.  THEIR 
EXPERTISE IN FACILITATING RELIGIOUS NEEDS, AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF 
THE COMPLEXITIES OF RELIGION WITH REGARD TO PERSONNEL AND MISSION, HAS 
LED TO THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO READINESS IN TIMES OF WAR AND 
PEACE.
3.  RPS ARE FORWARD DEPLOYED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AFRICA AND OTHER 
OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE NATION?S GLOBAL WAR ON 
TERROR.  OF THE 751 RPS IN THE NAVY, OVER 280 CURRENTLY SERVE WITH 
MARINE UNITS WHERE MARINES HAVE COME TO EXPECT AND RELY UPON THE 
ENCOURAGEMENT, SUPPORT, AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE THAT RELIGIOUS MINISTRY 
TEAMS PROVIDE.
4.  RPS, YOU RICHLY DESERVE THE GRATITUDE OF ALL SAILORS, MARINES AND 
THEIR FAMILIES.  OUR SINCEREST WISHES FOR A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
5.  RELEASED BY R. F. BURT, CHIEF OF NAVY CHAPLAINS.// 
BT 
#0000 
NNNN