The military (like the Senate which has a government-paid chaplain), is a secular organization with the deep religious issues that are embedded in the culture. That's why, starting with Geo Washington, there have always been chaplains available to help troops sort out questions of faith. The government subsidizes religious support so the First Amendment (and military person) is protected. Civilian subsidy of chaplains would violate the Amendment's intent because groups with the most money might provide the most chaplains…thus violating "free exercise" and possibly "establishing" a monopoly of one group over another. The only fair way to assist troops is by providing religious support for them – through a myriad chaplains from varied faith-groups.

"Conversion" is not a violation of the Constitution or military directives. Chaplains are not to "proselytize" but every week (usually on a Sunday or Saturday or Friday night), military chaplains, speaking and teaching from their faith perspective, have complete liberty to persuade others as they "perform" religious support within their faith-group. It's important to note that no chaplain preaches or teaches to coerced troops – it's a volunteer military and a voluntary congregation. Troops engage in faith discussions as they desire. "Conversion" is an individual changing his or her mind about something. If a atheist "converts" to Islam after voluntarily listening to and attending Islamic services, the Muslim chaplain knows that that choice was the converted's…he can't be charged with "proselytizing" or "converting" that person.

Since even atheists have a "faith", i.e., something which provides meaning and purpose for their lives, I hope they respect our Founding Father's thinking on these matters – as seen in some very significant faith terminology in our Constitution and Amendments. No matter if our faith is religious or non-religious, my experience is the military works hard to properly apply Constitutional principles in these matters…for which I am extremely grateful.

A secular military should not need chaplains. That is not to say the troop don’t need or want chaplains. However, shouldn’t the faith groups subsidize the cost of the chaplains? Instead the military could provide mental health counselors.

If I understand your scenario correctly, an atheist chaplain (if there could be such a person) could equally serve a Jew, a Christian, a Buddhist, and a Muslim by cheerfully assisting their faith needs. I find it difficult to imagine a person of faith taking faith advise from an atheist.

I think the point of the article is that it appears as if some of the chaplains have conversion as a goal. Clearly, that is a violation of the Constitution and against the directives of the US Military.

Everyone has a "faith-group"…atheists included. The military may be the only American place where true ecumenicism, plurality and respect of any and all views is taken seriously. The military environment is a remarkable application of the intention of the First Amendment. We should be be very thankful.