Made by a fire chaplain
Chaplain gear that belongs in the firehouse.
Navy mesh snapback hats embroidered with one word: Chaplain. $32 each, packed and mailed by me from South Carolina.
Ships within 7 days · I answer every email
The Gear
Pick Your Hat
Navy. Embroidered. Built for chaplains who show up.
Navy mesh back snapback
$32
Buy The ScriptNavy mesh back snapback
$32
Buy The Traditional
Navy knit cuff beanie
Flat $10 shipping on any order · Easy returns
Why this exists
1996In 1996, I lost two great friends. They died in a fire truck accident, responding to what turned out to be a false alarm. They were 22 and 19. We were all just kids.
There was no chaplain then. No one who knew us, who could sit with us and help lead us through our loss.
That loss shaped me. It's why I volunteer as a chaplain with my local department today, hoping to be that for someone else.
The Field Manual is what I've learned along the way.
For Lee and Monty: may the presence you deserved be the presence others receive.
— Caleb Nelson, GSPFD Fire Chaplain
The book
The Chaplain Field Manual
Presence. Trust. The Long Game.
A pocket-sized paperback built for firehouses, hospital rooms, parking lots, and long drives. It isn't theory. It's how to show up when life is actually happening.
“The distilled essence of long-term shepherding ministry in one tiny book. Everything you absolutely must know, and nothing you don't need… Start here.”
★★★★★T. Nichols, “A Beautiful Gut-Punch of a Book,” verified Amazon purchase
plus $5 shipping
Prefer Amazon? Get it there.
What's Inside
Identity
Who you are before what you do. You walk beside people, not over them.
Parish
Your parish isn't a building. It's the place your feet keep showing up.
Presence
What to say, what not to say, and when to stay quiet, from the firehouse to the ICU.
Sustainability
Boundaries, trust, and the long game. Ends with a personal plan you fill out.
“The most practical information concerning the ministry of chaplaincy that I have read in some time.”
★★★★★Gary Rogers, fire service chaplain for 25 years, Amazon review
“This book is VERY small in size but is huge in insight… This is a calling. You either hear it or you don't.”
★★★★★Paul Zimmer, verified Amazon purchase
About
Who's behind the gear
I'm Caleb Nelson, a fire chaplain in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. I got into the fire service in 1992. I've served my local department as a commissioner for more than fifteen years, and I serve as its chaplain too. I'm also a former professional firefighter, engineer, and EMT. I wrote The Chaplain Field Manual to help other chaplains show up well.
When I went looking for chaplain gear, I couldn't find anything that looked like it belonged at the station. Engine and ladder companies wear apparel that's sharp and earned. Chaplains show up to the same calls. The gear should look like it belongs there too.
More about my work at ChaplainCaleb.com.
Questions
Before you ask
What is your shipping and return policy?
I mail every order myself within 7 days. If something arrives damaged or wrong, email me within 14 days and I will make it right. Details on the Shipping & Returns page.
Where do I buy the Field Manual?
Right here. Order a copy from me for $7 plus $5 shipping, and I'll mail it myself. It's also available on Amazon.
Is the Field Manual only for fire chaplains?
No. It's written from the firehouse, but it's built for hospital rooms, parking lots, job sites, and kitchen tables too. If you're serving as a chaplain, walking alongside someone in crisis, or just trying to show up better for the people who need you, it's for you.
What does "Presence. Trust. The Long Game." mean?
It's the whole manual in three phrases. Presence: be there before you are needed. Trust: it's built slowly, in small moments, and lost fast. The long game: this is lifelong work, and success is presence, not outcomes.
Is the Field Manual available as an ebook?
It's a pocket-sized paperback, and that's intentional. It's meant to be carried, opened, and used.
How do I hear about new gear?
Use the Join the list button at the top of the page. You'll hear about new gear as it's ready.
Where does the money go?
Back into the work. Every book and hat sold here helps support my work as a volunteer fire chaplain.
Is this an official fire department product?
No. Fire Chaplain Gear is an independent project by Caleb Nelson. It isn't made, sold, or endorsed by any fire department or chaplain association.