1. Background: The position of Moral Leadership Officer (MLO) was created in 1995 to encourage approved senior members to do moral leadership seminars within CAP units. The basic rationale was to have additional personnel other than chaplains - lead moral leadership seminars for cadets. Moreover, it allowed clergy to serve as an MLO while their application to become a CAP chaplain was being processed.  Another consideration for developing the MLO position was that the standards to become a CAP chaplain were, and continue to be, impossible for many clergy to meet. When the Visiting Clergy program ended, there was a need to offer a program that would allow local clergy, not meeting CAP chaplain standards, an opportunity to continue to serve local units.

2. Requirements: To become an MLO a person must meet these six requirements:

    a. Be a Senior Member of CAP.

    b. Complete at least 60 training or academic hours of study beyond high school. Training can include military training seminars, or other educational experiences.

    c. Receive a letter of recommendation from his/her religious superior who can (1) testify to their having 2 years leadership experience, and (2) verify the applicant's character as a member in good standing.

    d. Submit a completed form 2a to the Wing Chaplain.  If they are serving in any other squadron responsibilities, there should be a notation in section 7 that reads (“Additional Duty as MLO”).

    e. Be interviewed and recommended by the Wing Chaplain.

    f. Be appointed by the National Staff Chaplain, CAP National Headquarters.

3. Moral Leadership Specialty Track - Upon appointment by the National Staff Chaplain, Moral Leadership Officers are given the specialty track code of 225 (Reference CAPR 50-17, paragraph 4-2).

a.      To earn the technician specialty rating, MLOs must read CAPP 265-4, the Chaplain Service Handbook, and write a one-page critique to what they read. This critique is given to the Wing Chaplain who approves/disapproves it and returns it to the MLO. Upon approval, the MLO gives a copy to the senior program officer and unit commander to enter the technician rating on the member's master record, CAPF 45b, and the unit’s Senior Training Report.

b.      To earn the senior specialty rating, MLOs must present 5 moral  leadership seminars within their CAP unit.  MLOs are to follow the instructions for leading moral leadership seminars printed in the beginning of the Values for Living pamphlet, CAPP 265-2.  The form at attachment B, CAPP 265-2, must be completed for each seminar and signed by the unit commander. The Wing Chaplain is to be sent a copy of the completed forms. The Senior Special Rating is earned when the MLO gives the senior program officer documentation signed by the unit commander verifying that 5 moral leadership seminars have been completed.

         c.      To  receive  the  master  rating, MLOs must
              conduct a moral leadership training seminar at a
              Chaplain Service Region Staff College. The Region
              Chaplain, or his/her designated representative, will
              verify successful completion of this requirement. The
              verification is given to the senior program officer at
              the MLO's unit who will update the member's master
              record and unit's Senior Training Report.

4. Responsibility for MLO Program: When a chaplain is assigned to a unit, any MLOs assigned to the same unit work under the guidance of the chaplain.  When no chaplain is assigned, the MLO works directly for the commander. Wing Chaplains monitor the effectiveness of the moral leadership program within their Wing.

5. Chaplain Service Region Staff Colleges - MLOs are encouraged to attend the Chaplain Service Staff College (CSRSC) held annually in each region for Chaplain Service personnel.  As part of the Chaplain Service, the provisions described in CAPR 50-17, paragraph 6-6, apply to MLOs as well as chaplains: "Chaplain Service personnel who are participating in a regular Level IV senior training program may satisfy the requirement for Region Staff College by attending TWO Chaplain Service Region Staff Colleges. Both CSRSCs must be convicted within a 5-year period."  

For more information about the MLO position, contact:  

Chaplain (Lt. Col) Jack Nahrstadt
Wing Chaplain
Cell: 951-775-9523 Home: 951-674-1377
Email

or

Captain Nancy Woodard

Moral Leadership Officer Liaison
P.O. Box 473
Rocklin, Ca. 95677
916.624.0228
mlo@echogroup.com