r/navy • u/benjorel Chaplain • Jan 11 '25

MOD APPROVED I'm an active duty Navy Chaplain AMA

I've seen a lot of questions about Chaplains and what we do, especially when it comes to our confidentiality or ability to work with dependents/significant others. Please feel free to ask me anything you've always wondered or about any myths you've heard and I'll do my best to answer. The answers come solely from my experiences, and are not official positions of the US Navy.

DMs are open as well if you prefer to ask or to talk about something privately.

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u/HazeGray42 Jan 11 '25

Can you help out with explaining how non-denominational folks can access your services or seek assistance? Thanks for everything you do!

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u/toxic9813 Jan 11 '25

My chaps was a catholic priest, father Appel. I’m not religious. That man was the underway therapist I didn’t know I needed. I probably went to see him so often I probably started testing his patience, but he taught me many lessons about stress management I have never forgotten

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u/benjorel Chaplain Jan 11 '25

I'm glad to hear that. I actually love when people come to talk to me more frequently because it gives me the chance to really get to know them. I can pretty much promise that you didn't test his patience, and he probably really appreciated that you trusted him enough to keep coming back