British Army adds chaplains to boost ‘values’

LONDON — More than $3 million will be spent to hire more chaplains for the British Army after an internal study revealed the army’s effectiveness could be in jeopardy because of a lack of spiritual and moral values among the troops, The Washington Times reported March 3.

Under the plan, enough chaplains will be hired to staff each unit with its own chaplain, who will travel with the troops. Currently, there are 144 chaplains who rotate among units.

“We are in the business of war for the purpose of peace and you cannot begin to understand your place in this business unless you have clear moral understanding,” said Sebastian Roberts, an army spokesman.

The Spiritual Needs Study was commissioned because of concern that new recruits had little concept of values such as loyalty, honesty and respect. The survey also found 97 percent of soldiers identify themselves as Christian, although few go to church regularly.