Army Appoints Military's First Hindu Chaplain

Huffington Post yesterday reported that the U.S. military has appointed its first Hindu chaplain and has developed a new badge for Hindu chaplains. It features the symbol "Om." On May 16, Army Captain Pratima Dharm moved from her position as a Chaplain Clinician at Walter Reed Medical Center Hospital to become the first Hindu member of the Army's chaplaincy corps.  Dharm earned her military commission in 2006 and previously served in Iraq where she was selected for the Army's Clinical Pastoral Education Program. Chinmaya Mission West and three lay leaders of Hindu services at the Pentagon served as endorsing agents for Dharm to become an Army chaplain.  Stars and Stripes last week carried an article on the multi-faith background that Dharm brings to her new position.