Current Issue Chaplain Kits

The current kit is the lightest and most portable to date. It comes in two nylon cases, though I combined mine into one case for ease of transport (a 200-round SAW pouch, for those interested). It comes with everything necessary to perform a worship service with the celebration of Communion.

Cases/Carriers

As the uniform camouflage patterns have changed, so have the patterns on the chaplain kit carriers. Also, there are patterns to match the camouflage pattern of the different services. Here are a few of the patterns:

The cases come with foam inserts with cut-outs for the pieces of the kit

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Protestant/Catholic

Above is the current issue chaplain kit in the Woodland Camouflage pattern. Notice the cross is Protestant and Catholic (author’s collection).

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Catholic Ministry Extender Kit

.Above is a Ministry Extender kit for Roman Catholics. Designed for non-priests to lead Catholic worship (author’s collection).

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Jewish

Above is the current issue Jewish Chaplain Kit though, as noted, the cases will change pattern with the uniforms (author’s collection).

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Muslim

.Above is the current issue Muslim kit which includes a compass to find the direction to Mecca, a special watch for reminders of the five time to pray and the other essential elements for the Muslim Chaplain (author’s collection).

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Orthodox

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Buddhist

There currently is not an official Buddhist Chaplain Kit available from Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) or any of the services that I have discovered. However, Chaplain (CPT) Christopher Mohr, an Army Buddhist Chaplain, has developed one by gathering pieces and parts of essential and desired items, suitable for Buddhist Chaplains or even Buddhist adherents. Here are pictures of the Buddhist kit he has assembled, interestingly while serving in Kuwait (photos courtesy of Chaplain Christopher Mohr):

 

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Hindu

To date, I have not found any issued or assembled Hindu Chaplain Kits. If you have seen one, or know what one may be like, please contact The Chaplain Kit.

To assemble a common Hindu Chaplain Kit seems to be a difficult task. Hinduism has many different festivals and occasions for worship with one website offering 28 different civilian puja (worship) kits for various celebrations, festivals and occasions for worship. Many of the contents used regularly in puja are perishable adding another logistical difficulty to providing specific kits for Hindu chaplains. It seems that perhaps it would be necessary to provide seasonal kits for particular seasons, similar to Kosher and Halal MREs provided for Jewish and Muslim Service Members. Below left is an example of a kit advertised as a “Daily Pujan Kit” (photo from the Kamiya Sindoor website). Below right is a Puja Kit which includes brass pieces that could be part of a permanent Hindu Kit for a chaplain (photo from the MiniMela.com website):

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