by Emma Sumlin & Jorge Gomez • 4 minutes
On Tuesday, July 29, America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.
For over two centuries, chaplains have served in every American conflict since the War of Independence, before the Declaration of Independence was even signed. Today, they continue to provide spiritual strength, comfort and moral leadership to our service members.
During the Revolutionary Era, George Washington was the leading advocate for military chaplains. Though many ministers were already volunteering alongside colonial troops, Washington wanted their services recognized and financially compensated, and for them to become an official part of the army.
On July 29, 1775, Congress granted Washington’s request and the Chaplain Corps was born. There would be one chaplain for each regiment in the Continental Army. Receiving a captain’s pay, they would attend to the spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing of the troops.
Since then, approximately 25,000 Army chaplains have served as religious and spiritual leaders for 25 million service members and their families.
A Divinely Inspired Purpose: Heroes on the Spiritual Battlefront
The Army chaplaincy is a reminder of why religious liberty is so crucial in our country, and why this First Freedom is vital for our nation’s armed forces.
Even before declaring our independence, faith and the free exercise of religion were part of our history. The Army Chaplain Corps is a testament to our nation’s religious heritage.
“The Chaplain Corps preceded the Constitution and its amendments by several years, but the Corps is a product of our Nation’s fundamental commitment to religious freedom, and its recognition that religion plays an integral role in the lives of many of America’s Soldiers,” according to the Army Chaplains Corps publication, “Celebrating 250 Years of Sacred Sacrifice.”
There is no question that Washington and the Colonial Army showed unparalleled bravery against the most powerful military in the world of that time, Great Britain.
As a commander, Washington anticipated the toll war would take on his troops, knowing the colonists faced a daunting fight against a longstanding army. Of course, he knew how important it was for his soldiers to be physically prepared. But he also understood that colonial troops would need something greater in the face of such odds: spiritual fortitude and the moral strength to persevere.
When we look back at the Revolutionary Era, it’s clear that America’s fight for independence is closely tied to the most important and sacred liberty of all: religious liberty.
John Hurt—America’s first military chaplain—delivered a powerful sermon titled “The Love of Our Country” to provide hope and encouragement for colonial troops during battle. Chaplain Hurt expressed how faith and religious belief would give them the will to keep fighting:
“We see then how closely the kind Creator has connected our interest with our duty, and made it each man’s happiness to contribute to the welfare of his country…indeed the name of Patriot implies, in its true sense, everything that is most great and godlike among men; it carries in it the idea of a public blessing; it implies a power of doing good, exerted and extended to whole communities; and resembles, within its sphere, that universal providence which protects and supports the world.”
250 years later, military chaplains have withstood the test of time as one of the most valuable and essential institutions in the U.S. military.
They are heroes on the spiritual battlefront—the very ones who pray over our fallen heroes and minister to those who live to fight another day. Without chaplains’ passion and devotion, our men and women in uniform would have to face horrors of war without any hope, comfort or source of encouragement. They’re the ones who provide comfort and solace in the most difficult of times.
In addition to tending to the spiritual wellbeing of our troops, chaplains also carry out the vital task of upholding religious freedom within the military, ensuring that service members can serve in a manner consistent with their beliefs and convictions.
The Army Chaplain’s Creed includes a line that says, “I will always place religious freedom first.”
U.S. Army Regulation 165-1 also presents this directly: “In striking a balance between the ‘establishment’ and ‘free exercise’ clauses, the Army chaplaincy, in providing religious services and ministries to the command, is an instrument of the U.S. government to ensure that soldiers’ ‘free exercise’ rights are protected.”
While their duties are primarily focused on spiritual readiness, many chaplains have also demonstrated incredible bravery. Stories abound of chaplains administering the last rites to fallen soldiers, oblivious to the fire around them, or dashing out into the open to rescue the wounded without regard to their own lives. Dozens have even made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, living up to the Chaplain Corps motto, Pro Deo Et Patria—For God and Country.
More than 3,000 chaplains currently serve in the U.S. Army. Representing five major faiths groups (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist) and over 120 denominations, the Army Chaplain Corps in 2025 is the most multifaceted, diverse and capable in all of American history.
At its core, the Army Chaplain Corps’ mission and purpose remains the same today as it was in 1775: making sure America’s service members have the spiritual fortitude—the full and complete armor—they need to fight for our freedoms.
Protecting a Sacred Legacy
First Liberty is proud to defend and represent military chaplains, ensuring that they’re free to live, serve and minister consistently with their faith and beliefs. We’ve had the privilege to represent and secure victories for heroes such as:
Chaplains serve a unique—and indeed, indispensable—role in our military. They care for the hearts, minds and souls of America’s warriors. By protecting chaplains’ religious freedom rights, we can help ensure the sacred legacy of the Army Chaplain Corps can carry on for another 250 years.
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