SPC Malta being initially counseled by the Regimental UMT NCOIC as she comes into her new unit

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In-Processing

First thing you have to focus on is in-processing.  Most Religious Affairs Specialists fall into the trap of jumping straight into work without completing their in-processing tasks. Once you complete in-processing and you find out who your sponsor is, start asking some questions.

Questions to ask:

1. What is my Unit like?
2. How is the Leadership?
3. What are the Soldiers like?
4. Which Platoon will I be in?
5. Who is my Unit Platoon Sergeant?
6. Who is my Chaplain?

Answers to these questions lead to the next part.

Expectations

Armed with the knowledge of who, what, when, where, and why, have a sit down with your Chaplain and Platoon Sergeant.  Find out exactly what is expected of you.  This is important because it will set the trend of how you will be treated.  Will you have to be micromanaged or will you have freedom to complete tasks as you see fit?  Showing that you are willing to learn will give your Unit peace of mind.  Maybe the last Religious Affairs Specialist was a dirt bag or maybe the Assistant was a rock star.  Who you replaced, unfortunately, impacts how you will be perceived.

Resources

Lastly, once you have situated yourself in your Unit, branch out.  Find local resources that help Soldiers in their time of need.  There are resources like, the MFLC, Behavioral Health (BH), and Army Community Service (ACS), to name a few.  There will be time where Soldiers do not want to talk to your Chaplain and you will need to know chich resources are available and point them in the right direction.  If your local BDE Religious Affairs NCO is on your post, go meet with him or her.  Use them as a resource in case you don’t know how to complete a task.  Meet with your peers and isolate yourself.  Get a good base to communicate with and share information to the best of your ability.  One day, you may be the one helping a Religious Affairs Specialist fresh out of AIT.

This article was written by an anonymous NCO.  Edited by CH(CPT) Daniel Kim.