Welcome to the Chaplain’s page

On behalf of RP2 Renaud, I would like to welcome you to the 1LAR Battalion Chaplain’s page. It is our privilege and honor to serve all the Marines, Sailors and families that are part of this dynamic command. If we can be of any service to you or your family please feel free to contact us at any time by phone or email. Our contact information can be found to the left of this message.

What does a Chaplain do?

As a Chaplain it is my primary duty to provide care for all Marines, Sailors and their families regardless of their religious beliefs or faith backgrounds. Being in the military can cause a great deal of stress in our work and in our families, especially during a deployment. I have received training that enables me to come along side individuals and families to help them manage these stressors in their lives in a way that will enable them to grow from them and move forward. Chaplains are mandated that everything discussed with them is considered “Privileged” and is strictly confidential. In other words, whatever is shared with the chaplain cannot be shared with anyone else. This insures that there is always someone that a service member or family member can talk to regardless of what is going on in their life. Because of my position, I go wherever the Battalion goes. This gives every Marine and Sailor access to someone safe to talk to no matter where we are or what activity we are engaged in.

My second major role is to provide and facilitate the free exercise of religious beliefs. One of the great privileges of being a citizen of the United States is our religious freedoms. The best way I can insure my own freedom is to make sure that everyone has freedom to practice their faith. I provide worship services in the field and coordinate with Chaplains of different faith backgrounds to provide religious services to insure that every Marine and Sailor has an opportunity to worship according to their own faith perspective. I am a protestant chaplain and I work hard to provide services to as many service members as I can. Please know that I am constant in prayer for our Marines, Sailors and their families.

Finally, I serve as an advisor to the command on issues of morale, ethics and religion.

What do I hope for?

My hope is that every Marine, Sailor and family member has the opportunity to develop and grow in all areas of their lives including their faith. Our faith can offer stability in times of change and great turmoil. When we take a few minutes and focus on something other than the routines of daily life, it provides an opportunity for us to refresh our mind and spirit. I encourage each member to spend some time each day in reading, prayer, and meditation; to find others that share a common faith perspective at home or in the field to provide strength and encouragement in your own personal journey of faith. I believe that faith will give Marines and Sailors a chance to be refreshed and results in a well rounded individual, family member, Marine or Sailor.

Chaplain Biography

Lieutenant Commander Patrick Niemeyer was born in Sanger, California. He received his Masters of Divinity from the International School of Theology in 1995 and is endorsed by the Evangelical Free Churches of America (EFCA). He was commissioned in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in April 2001. In addition he has earned degrees in Nursing, Psychology, and Accounting. He is married to his current wife of 35 years, Cindy, and has two children, Brandon and Morgan.

Chaplain Niemeyer was enlisted from 1971 to 1975 and served aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SSBN 602 as a Launch Operator Supervisor.

Before returning to the Navy, Chaplain Niemeyer worked as a Registered Nurse, Management Engineer and Chief of Finance and Budget for Community Hospitals of Central California. He pastored in local churches for ten years.

Chaplain Niemeyer has served at the following duty stations, Naval Weapons Station, China Lake, California, USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN – CG57, Joint Special Operations Command in Afghanistan, United States Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England as the Command Chaplain, Marine Corps 1st Division - 3D Assault Amphibious Battalion. He is currently the Command Chaplain for Marine Corps 1st Division – 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

Lieutenant Commander Niemeyer’s personal decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Coast Guard Commendation, Battle Efficiency ribbon, Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Outstanding Volunteer Service medal and various other personal, service and campaign awards.