25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST (RP) RATING
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 003/04
ALMARS : 003/04
R 210930Z JAN 04
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
ALMAR
BT
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 003/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST
(RP) RATING//
RMKS/1.  15 JANUARY 2004 MARKED THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF
THE RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST (RP) RATING.  FOR 25
YEARS, RP'S HAVE SERVED FAITHFULLY IN THE MARINE CORPS AND
THEIR COMMITMENT TO GOD, COUNTRY, AND CORPS HAS HELPED FORM
A SPECIAL AND SUCCESSFUL TEAM.
2.  THE MARINE CORPS HAS A LONG STANDING HISTORY OF
UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR ENLISTED SUPPORT TO OUR
CHAPLAINS.  BEFORE RP'S, CHAPLAINS ONLY HAD TEMPORARY
SUPPORT, TYPICALLY ONLY IN WARTIME.  HOWEVER, THE MARINE
CORPS UNDERSTOOD THE NEED TO CREATE AND RETAIN THESE
SPECIALISTS.  IN FEBRUARY 1942, BEFORE THE NAVY ESTABLISHED
THE RATING, THE MARINE CORPS CREATED THE SPECIALTY KNOWN AS
THE CHAPLAIN'S ASSISTANT (SSN 534).  THE FIRST MARINE TO
RECEIVE THE NEW CLASSIFICATION WAS GILBERT DEAN ARNOLD, WHO
WAS MADE A MASTER TECHNICAL SERGEANT.  THE QUEST FOR A
PERMANENT RATING FOR ALL NAVAL SERVICES WAS FINALLY
APPROVED ON 15 JANUARY 1979, WHEN THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
ESTABLISHED THE RELIGIOUS PROGRAM SPECIALIST (RP) RATING.
3.  THE MARINE CORPS IS ESPECIALLY PROUD TO HAVE RP'S
SERVING ALONGSIDE OUR CHAPLAINS THROUGHOUT THE CORPS.  ON
BEHALF OF ALL MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES, I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, WISH YOU A HAPPY "RP" BIRTHDAY, AND
HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U. S. MARINE  
CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//