Leading these clinical chaplains is Capt. William Hlavin at the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, whose personal journey from surface warfare officer (SWO), to civilian pastor, and back to the Navy as a chaplain, embodies Navy Medicine’s commitment to meeting service members wherever they are, providing strength for the spirit in the places most dedicated to healing the body.

“I served as a SWO for my first six years on active duty and that experience really solidified my call to ministry, so I left the Navy in 1994 and attended seminary in Columbus, Ohio,” said Hlavin. “After 9/11, I felt the call to rejoin the Navy, this time as a chaplain where I could support Sailors and Marines in a time of crisis.”

Hlavin was ordained after receiving his Master of Divinity degree on June 13, 1998, and six years later he was recommissioned as a lieutenant in the Navy reserve, serving initially as a chaplain of a reserve unit at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. In December 2006, he reported to 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, and was mobilized and deployed with the battalion to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2010 in support of combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom.

“That deployment was really challenging, but it was probably the most transformative ministry of my life,” explained Hlavin. “It convinced me that I was exactly where I needed to be, and with those I was called to serve.”

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Every Navy chaplain is an ordained member of the clergy in their religious faith tradition and possesses an advanced degree in theological studies. They are charged with providing for the religious ministry needs of their faith group and facilitating for the spiritual needs of all. Those who serve in Navy Medicine take an extra step to complete a year-long residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in a hospital setting, consisting of at least 1,200 hours of clinical experience and 400 hours of classroom instruction. The program focuses on developing clinical skills, initiating relationships between the medical team and the patient, and integrating religious heritage into the healthcare environment.

“The advanced level of training in a clinical setting not only enables chaplains to care for hospitalized patients and work with medical multidisciplinary teams,” continued Hlavin. “But provides more of an advanced skill set for pastoral care and counseling, particularly valuable as chaplains deploy forward with expeditionary medical teams.” Most chaplains in Navy Medicine have also attained clinical board certification, a nationally recognized credential representing an even higher level of competency in healthcare chaplaincy and a commitment to continued professional development.

On expeditionary medical platforms like hospital ships, expeditionary medical facilities and units, chaplains and their enlisted counterparts — religious program specialists — are essential to mission success. They provide support during mass casualty events, support operations, and offer care to Sailors and Marines, leveraging a unique set of skills in high-stress operational environments.

Spiritual readiness is a core element of the Navy’s overall warfighting readiness, defined as “a strong spirit that enables the warfighter to accomplish the mission with honor.” In hospitals and military treatment facilities, chaplains bring the spiritual, physical, and emotional elements of the healing process together holistically. Navy chaplains provide religious services, pastoral care and counseling, family and marriage counseling, advise leadership on matters of ethics and morale, and provide logistical support for religious materials and documents.

“In a moment of crisis, not only does the patient need excellent medical care and treatment, they need hope and the power of faith in their lives. As a chaplain walks into the room, that chaplain embodies hope and faith in their caring actions and points to the presence of God in healing” concluded Hlavin. “Hope is a powerful force that keeps patients and their families connected to each other and their faith and similarly allows them to place trust in the skills, knowledge, and compassion of their medical providers.”

From the bedside of a patient to strategic planning for the future, the mission of the Navy Chaplain Corps in Navy Medicine remains constant: to strengthen the spirit of every warfighter. Clinically trained chaplains daily demonstrate that faith and hope are vital to the healing process with one simple creed, “Called to Serve.”

The Navy Medicine Enterprise’s 44,000+ talented and ready forces optimize health readiness, deliver quality healthcare, and provide global expeditionary medical support to warfighters.