Building Strong and Ready Teams (BSRT)

BSRT is a Command directed, Chaplain led program that builds and maintains healthy Soldier and Family structure. However, BSRT differs from the legacy Strong Bonds Program by (a) broadening the program scope for holistic wellness, (b) increasing cost efficiency, and (c) training a greater percentage of end strength. The following trifold explains more about the program and can be used to educate your leaders and organizations about the BSRT program. 

BSRT Tri-Fold

BSRT Objectives:

• Strengthen Soldier and Family structure through evidence-based relationship training.
• Improve quality of life by providing skills necessary to endure adversity.
• Build spiritual readiness, ethical and moral strength for better decision making, leading to healthy behavioral outcomes.
• Enrich Spiritual Character to develop self-value and identity.
• Ensure the free exercise of religion for all Soldiers and Families.

3) The US Army Reserve FY25 BSRT Annex (K-003) and associated appendices. Those documents can be obtained through unit channels (S3, Command, and Command Chaplain’s Office) requested through your Military Email, or accessed through this website from an AR Net computer: USARC CH HUB

4) If you are on Facebook, you can follow the USARC Chaplain Directorate Page for updates and good news about BSRT! Facebook

5) There is a general BSRT MS Teams site with information and training aids to support the program for all TPU Unit Ministry Teams. If you are an MSC Program Manager, there is an MS Teams Channel set up for you.  If you would like to request access, email CH (LTC) Jeremy Naugle. 

6) Building Strong and Ready Teams Story Boards and EXSUMs: Let us hear about all the good work you are doing!  When you complete an event, develop a Story Board or write up an EXSUM. We are eager to “show off” the hard work and dedication that each UMT does each day in the United States Army Reserve! 

7) If you are a TPU Chaplain please contact your MSC BSRT Program Manager who can guide you in how to execute events. 

Building Spiritual Fitness: A list of additional Programs and Resources can be found HERE.

Additional information about the Army Reserve Building Strong and Ready Teams (BSRT) can be found at the USARC Chaplain Directorates HUB: Link (This site requires CAC and AR-Net access)

Army Reserve Command Battle Focused Training (ARC-BFT)

Army Regulation 165-1, Army Chaplain Corps Activities, requires all CHC personnel to participate in consolidated Unit Ministry Team (UMT) training. This regulation requires garrison Chaplains to “facilitate Chaplain Corps-specific training, providing a venue for all CHC personnel within their footprint, regardless of unit assignment” (para 1-9d). In the USAR, Major Subordinate Command Chaplains, supported by Readiness Division (RD) Command Chaplain Sections, function as senior UMT trainers for their formations.

Army Reserve Chaplain Corps Battle-Focused Training (ARC-BFT) represents a strategic shift from religious support oriented on contingency operations to training that enables successful execution of RS in support of Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). Chaplain Sections and UMTs must be trained and ready to perform RS in geographically decentralized, multi-nodal expeditionary environments.

Mission: USAR CHC Personnel conduct in-person training of critical Battle Focused Training (BFT) tasks at current Fiscal Year Army Reserve Chaplain Battle-Focused Training (ARC-BFT) events beginning the first day of the FY in order to maximize readiness and comply with FORSCOM’s Battle-Focused Training (BFT) directive.

Execution: CHC personnel will coordinate at echelon to provide ARC-BFT events that train CHC capabilities identified in the proponent Critical Task Site Selection Board (CTSSB) and FORSCOM’s FY BFT MOI.

Additional information about ARC-BFT can be found at the USARC Chaplain Directorates HUB: Link (This site requires CAC and AR-Net access)

Talent Management/Resource Management

The Chaplain Corps (CHC) provides Commanders with Religious Support (RS) capabilities that promote Soldier and Family Readiness through expertise in technical competencies that enhance spiritual fitness, resiliency, moral decision making, and morale. Leaders use Talent Management (TM) principles and processes to ensure Unit Commanders have the appropriate skill sets in their Chaplain Section (CS)/Unit Ministry Team (UMT) members to support and advise on spiritual readiness development for both religious and non-religious personnel (FM 7-22, 10-9).

In a typical Fiscal Year (FY), Chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists will receive 48 UTAs and 15 AT days to accomplish all RS activities and maintain readiness. Failure to complete Professional Military Education (PME) continues to be the primary factor for non-promotion to the next rank for both officer and enlisted. Annex K-005 (USAR Chaplaincy Talent Management) to OPORD 25-001 USARC FY25-27 Base Operation Order K-5-2.

Army Reserve Chaplain Corps Battle Focused Training (ARC-BFT) provides individual and collective task training to all CHC personnel. Each UMT/CS is expected to attend the closest ARC-BFT that corresponds to unit Prep Year.

Mission: CHC personnel in the USAR execute talent management in Fiscal Year and beyond IOT enhance the RS capabilities CHC personnel provide to Unit Commanders and shape future leaders to advance in their career field.

Additional information about the Army Reserves Talent and Resource Management can be found at the USARC Chaplain Directorates HUB: Link (This site requires CAC and AR-Net access)

Institutional Training

The Chaplain Corps provides Commanders with Religious Support capabilities that promote Soldier and Family Readiness through expertise in technical competencies that enhance resiliency, moral decision-making, and morale. In some cases, specialized courses of training or training providing skill identifiers are necessary for Chaplain Corps personnel to effectively perform the capability requirements of their positions.

Mission: The USAR Chaplaincy executes FY25 Institutional Training programs for courses beginning 01 OCT 24 to provide Chaplain Corps (CHC) personnel with the specialized skills required to meet Unit Commanders’ capability requirements.

Additional information about the Army Reserve’s Institutional Training can be found at the USARC Chaplain Directorates HUB: Link (This site requires CAC and AR-Net access)

Chaplain Detachments (CDs)

Chaplain Detachments (CDs) provide the Army Chaplain Corps with force tailoring expeditionary capabilities for global sourcing, contingency missions, and Army Response Force (ARF). They are small, deployable USAR units that augment deployed. CH sections for FUOPS, 24-hour & split-based religious support (RS) operations. Based on their designation, CDs are an augmentation capability to CH sections at higher HQ levels, not a replacement for organic religious support or force structure.

CDs are a Chief of Chaplains asset providing important technical capabilities to Commanders with specialization at varying echelons based upon the CD type (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, & Delta). As they are an MTOE Unit with a Chaplain OIC, lacking a traditional Commander, and are two to five person teams with no organic support, they require tailored advisement and support from their technical chain to assure readiness for assigned Commands.

Mission: USAR Stakeholder Units manage and train CDs at Home Station and in collaboration with designated training partners throughout FY25 to enhance their doctrinal capabilities and maximize their readiness for global missions.

Additional information about the Army Reserve’s Chaplain Detachments (CDs) can be found at the USARC Chaplain Directorate’s HUB: Link (This site requires CAC and AR-Net access)