PROCUREMENT OF FAITH GROUP SUPPLIES

Among your responsibilities for logistics will be the procurement of faith group supplies. As an RP, you must recognize the sources and the procedures you should use to procure these items.

Ecclesiastical supply catalogs provide a comprehensive list of church goods, vestments, and articles of devotion. Private commercial firms specializing in certain religious articles will publish these specialty catalogs. Recognize, however, that items ordered from such a firm may be more costly than the same articles carried in the Federal Supply Classification (FSC) system using Afloat Supply Procedures, NAVSUP P-485. Consequently, you should order ecclesiastical items through the FSC system whenever possible. If you cannot procure an item through the system, use a private commercial firm and request the item through an open purchase agreement. More about the FSC will be discussed later in this chapter.

PROCUREMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF FIELD EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

When operating with Fleet Marine Force (FMF) components or a Navy Construction Battalion (CB) in the field, you and the chaplain will use a field facility. This may consist of no more than a general-purpose tent where you set up your mountout boxes, erect a portable altar, store supplies, and establish the office of the

chaplain. When circumstances are agreeable, the office of the chaplain will use this facility exclusively. In other cases, the facility may be shared with other command functions such as medical or dental personnel.

In mobile or combat situations, you will more likely use the chaplain's field combat kit. In this case, set up the contents of the chaplain's kit or chaplain's combat kit for divine worship using the most suitable area or space you can find. A jeep hood or stacked boxes might act as an altar. In a field situation, you may need to be more innovative and creative in order to meet the demands of the circumstances under which you must operate. Before you consider a location in a combat situation, your primary concern must be the physical safety and security of the chaplain and those who have congregated to worship or engage in other religious activities.

The Navy specifics the use of certain types of ecclesiastical equipment for conducting divine and religious services afloat and in the field. This equipment is reduced in size and weight to permit easy handling and uses a minimum amount of space. Chaplains assigned to afloat, FMF, and CB units will use this equipment frequently. Ecclesiastical equipment within this category usually includes the following items:

• A portable Lee aluminum altar

• Jewish chaplain's combat kit

• Protestant chaplain's combat kit

• Roman Catholic chaplain's combat kit

• Roman Catholic and Protestant chaplains' field kits

• Fleet Marine Force chaplain's embarkation equipment and supplies

In the following sections, let's take a brief look at each of these items.

Portable Lee Field Altar

The portable Lee aluminum altar is used when chaplains conduct worship services under field or combat conditions. It is used in conjunction with the chaplain's combat kit or field kit.

The portable Lee field altar is shown in figure 6-

6. View A shows the Lee altar enclosed in its portable transport case. View B shows the Lee altar in its disassembled state. Notice the position of the legs and the leg extensions. View C shows the altar in its

Figure 6-6.-Portable Lee field altar: A. Enclosed in portable transport case; B. Disassembled; C. Assembled.

assembled position as it is being made ready for use. Unfolded and assembled for use, the Lee altar measures 39" X 60" X 24." Folded and in its canvas case, it measures 24" x 3 1/2" x 30." When the altar is in its stored state, the linen package (contained in its canvas pouch) is folded into the center, as shown in view B. When the altar is assembled for use, the linens are

removed from the pouch. The linens with this altar include only one frontal. The frontal is in a liturgical color but has no faith group symbolism. As shown in view C, the frontal covers the front of the altar and is held in place by a row of snap fasteners located along the back edge of the altar and two tapes that tie around the front legs. The white altar cloth included in the linen package is used to cover the top of the altar. (The altar appointments are then arranged on this surface.) The altar frontal must be dry cleaned whereas the altar cloth may be laundered.

The portable Lee altar should be erected in the following manner:

1. Remove the portable altar from its carrying case.

2. Open the altar to its full length and lay it top down.

3. Raise the legs, one at a time, to the open position.

4. Remove the four leg extensions from the stored position.

5. Insert one leg extension in each leg.

6. Remove the frontal and altar cloths from the linen package and set them neatly aside.

7. Turn the portable altar over into an upright position making sure it is placed in a secure and steady position.

8. Place the frontal on the altar so that it overhangs the front of the altar. Connect the snaps on the frontal to the fasteners on the rear of the altar.

9. Locate the two tapes attached to the frontal and tie them to the portable altar front legs.

10. Place the altar cloth on the altar leaving an equal amount of overhang on each end of the portable altar.

By design, the aluminum portable Lee altar is used for interdenominational religious services in field and combat conditions. Because of its practical and nonsectarian design, the portable Lee altar is adaptable for Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish divine services. In the following sections, you will read about how you will use this altar to assemble the appointments contained in your chaplain's combat or field kit for each of these services.