The Ministry of Defence has launched a directory of religious advisors who will provide local support to Armed Forces personnel who follow faiths other than Christianity.

The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Service already provides spiritual, moral and pastoral support to all Service personnel, irrespective of religious beliefs.

The Directory of Local Advisors has been drawn up with the help of the MOD’s Religious Advisory Panel, which comprises leaders from the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist religions.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, on a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in north London, said: “The Armed Forces are determined to become even more representative of our diverse society, harnessing the wealth of talent and skills of individuals from different backgrounds across all religious groups.

“This Directory is just one of the ways in which the Armed Forces are providing support to personnel from all faiths.

“I am very grateful to the members of the MOD’s Religious Advisory Panel for their support and contributions to this worthwhile Directory.”

The Directory was due to be launched at the first formal meeting between the MOD’s Religious Advisory Panel, the heads of chaplaincy and the principal personnel officers from the MOD and the three Services. It will then be distributed across the Armed Forces.

The number of Armed Forces personnel with the following recorded religions are:
Christianity: 191,985
• Islam: 280
• Sikhism: 75
• Other: 765
• Judaism: 65
• Hinduism: 140
• Buddhism: 85.
All figures rounded to the nearest five.