Military archdiocese approves changing chaplain insignia to reflect faith role

The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, expressed its approval of a plan for military chaplains to display insignia on their uniforms that reflects their religious faith as opposed to their military rank.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on March 24 that he will sign a memo that directs military chaplains, all of whom are officers, “to replace the rank insignia on their uniforms with their religious insignia.” Chaplains will retain their rank, but it will not be shown.

“This speaks to the difficult balance of the duality of a military chaplain,” Hegseth said in his announcement, posted on X.

“A chaplain is first and foremost a chaplain and an officer second,” he said. “This change is a visual representation of that fact specifically unique to the role of a chaplain. They are first and foremost called and ordained by God, and while they will retain rank as an officer to those they serve, their rank will not be visible.”

Following the announcement, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services told EWTN News that the archdiocese “favors facilitating authentic pastoral care to those for whom it is responsible.”

“If the decision to eliminate the rank insignia for chaplains so as to favor the insignia indicating religious affiliation contributes to making chaplains more approachable, the archdiocese favors it,” he said. “More importantly, the chaplain serves as a reminder of the holy and the dignity of the human person and leads worship. Any other question is secondary to those purposes.”

In his announcement, Hegseth said the intention is “to uplift and celebrate the chaplain’s role as a chaplain.” He said the change would also remove “any unease or anxiety” a military member may feel about approaching a chaplain with a higher rank, who may be a senior officer, “for guidance on sensitive matters such as addiction, relationships, or struggles with faith.”

“Instead, they will be seen among the highest ranks because of their divine calling,” Hegseth said.

“Theirs is a high and sacred calling, but they can only be successful if they’re given the freedom to boldly guide and care for their flock,” he added. “And to our chaplains, you have a sacred calling. So preach the truth, be steadfast in your faith, and shepherd the flock entrusted to you.”

The shift is still in its early stages and it remains unclear what role the specific denominations will have in creating the insignia, or whether or how separate religious denominations will be identified on the insignia.

EWTN News reached out to the Department of Defense to ask how it will manage situations in which chaplains are in conflict zones or overseas bases where displaying certain religious faiths could make them a target but was referred back to the video announcement.

In January, Broglio praised Hegseth for other steps to strengthen the chaplain corps, such as the elimination of the official spiritual fitness guide, which both the archbishop and the defense secretary believed downplayed the religious role of chaplains. The archbishop said Hegseth is trying to emphasize the chaplaincy’s responsibility for religious services, religious instruction, and advising the commanders.

Alternatively, Broglio has objected to a few of President Donald Trump’s military decisions, such as when the military struck alleged drug boats near Venezuela and then killed the survivors. Broglio said in December 2025 that intentionally killing survivors that pose no imminent threat is “illegal and immoral.”

The archbishop has also said chaplains should advise decision-makers in the military on the importance of adhering to just war doctrine.