DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 1738.1B
N097
27 Jan 2022
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1738.1B
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: CHAPLAINS RELIGIOUS ENRICHMENT DEVELOPMENT OPERATION
Ref: (a) 10 U.S.C.
(b) U.S. Navy Regulations 1990
(c) SECNAVINST 1730.7E
(d) OPNAVINST 1730.1E
(e) GAO Principles of Federal Appropriations Law: Third Edition, Volume I
(f) OPNAVINST 5380.1D
(g) MCO 1738.1A
(h) DoDI 1304.28 of 12 May 2021
(i) COCINST 5351.1
1. Purpose. This instruction establishes policy for the Chaplains Religious Enrichment
Development Operation (CREDO) pursuant to references (a) through (h).
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 1738.1A.
3. Scope and Applicability. This instruction applies to all Navy commands and personnel.
4. Background. CREDO increases the spiritual readiness and resilience of Service Members
and other authorized persons as part of the Department of the Navy’s (DON) Strategic Plan for
Religious Ministry. CREDO delivers standardized Core and Core Plus products designed to
sustain spiritual readiness across all phases of war.
5. Policy. As the Director of Religious Ministry for the DON, per reference (c), the Chief of
Chaplains (CoC) is responsible for standardizing the delivery of Religious Ministry (RM)
through CREDO as described in this policy. CREDO is administered by the Commander, Navy
Installations Command (CNIC) Force Chaplain. CREDO utilizes products specifically designed
to meet the religious, spiritual and moral needs of Service Members and other authorized
persons. CREDO products and activities are developed and led by uniformed chaplains of the
U.S. Armed Forces and constitute the delivery of RM. The CoC will approve all products used
in CREDO program activities.
a. Scope of CREDO.
(1) CREDO addresses the broad religious and moral aspects of life consistent with the
definition of RM in references (c) and (d).
