The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), was created by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1985 as the only Catholic diocese responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics in the Military, their dependents, patients in VA hospitals, students at the service academies and federal employees working outside of the U.S. The Archdiocese is the only Catholic endorsing agency that endorses and grants faculties for priests to serve as chaplains in the U.S. Military and VA Medical Centers.

AMS-endorsed priests serve at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, making the AMS the nation's only global archdiocese. AMS-endorsed priests also serve at 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the U.S.

Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the AMS to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs.