Mike Apple

The Chaplain Assistant (56M) military occupational specialty (MOS) was established by the U.S. Army in 1909 to support chaplains in providing spiritual care to soldiers. Originally known as "Chaplain’s Clerk," the role evolved through the 20th century, particularly during World War II, when chaplain assistants were vital in coordinating religious services and ensuring the safety of chaplains in combat zones. In 2001, the MOS was officially designated as 56M, emphasizing both administrative duties and the protection of chaplains during operations. The 56M MOS was discontinued in 2019, when it was merged with the Religious Affairs Specialist (56M) role to better reflect the evolving responsibilities of religious support personnel in the modern Army.