My time as an Army chaplain candidate has been very enjoyable but, at times, also very frustrating. Unfortunately, there is little guidance for candidates and the frequent turnover in chaplain recruiting and management doesn’t help.
So, to help those who come behind me, I will offer a series of posts with advice for chaplain candidates and potential chaplain candidates. My advice will be based on my own experiences and knowledge and does not necessarily represent official Army doctrine. While the information in this series is specific to the Army chaplain candidate program, Air Force and Navy candidates may also find the information helpful.
If you’re a chaplain, chaplain candidate, or potential candidate, I encourage you to ask questions or make suggestions by filling in the comment box below (if you don’t see it, click the title of this post) or the contact form.
Hi CH Sparks, how are you Sir? I’ve been commissioned as a Chaplain Candidate and completed CH-BOLC this past summer. I’m considering going into the reserves and understand there is tuition assistance for a four year commitment. According to the Chaplain Candidate handbook, I’m to communicate with the RSC full-time support Chaplain’s officer. However, I am unclear on that accronym and did not find it online. Could you give me some guidance on this?
Thank you,
Sam
Sam, RSC is “Regional Support Command.” All RSCs have now been renamed “Regional Readiness Commands” (RRCs). Since you are a reservist, you should have an RRC in your region that handles personnel assignments, TA, etc. There should be an RRC chaplain who can help point you in the right direction. If you don’t know how to contact your RRC, talk to your unit chain of command–they should know how to put you in touch with the RRC.
I heard that the army may be going away from accepting online schools such as Liberty to fulfill the educational requirements for becoming a chaplain. Is that true? And if so, would it affect me if I began taking courses now and finished in a couple of years?
Thanks,
Carl
Carl, I haven’t heard anything of that nature. So long as the school holds regional accreditation, it should be acceptable for the military. You should discuss this with a chaplain recruiter so that he can give you some insight as to whether your program would meet the requirements.
Hi, I am currently overweight but losing, and I spoke with a National Guard recruiter who said he could start the Chaplain Candidate paperwork on me so that the final thing would be the weigh-in – I subsequently lost all my files when my computer crashed. Is there someone I can talk to about this, because the Reserve recruiter said they would not even start to talk to me until I made weight. That has been a stumbling block for me, and I know if I could get the paperwork started it would give me the motivation I need. Thank you.
I was wondering if you sign up for the chaplain candidate program are you locked into serving a minimum of three years? Is there a point where you can opt out if you are not interested or is it once you are in the program you are in it? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
Sir, I am currently enroled full time working on my MDiv. with 33 hrs. left. I have13 years of prior experience and I am 44 yrs. old. I expect to complete Aug. of 2011 at the age of 45. I believe I have untill I am 50 to enlist. I understand that two years of experience is needed to be accepted full time which I do not completely have.
My question is, would it be better for me to complete the two years of experience before endevoring to enlist or should I go National Guard which waves the two years experience and try to transfer into full time service? How hard is it to go active from Guard and how many years of service would be required from the National Guard before I would be eligible to apply for full time service? Also, how early should I begin the enrollment process?
Thank you for your time,
Dean
I just passed my physical and now awaiting board clearance for chaplain candidacy. My question was how hard is it for Chaplains to go Active Guard Reserve? What are pros/cons of AGR and or Active duty?
Hello Chaplain, I am 46 years old and currently in the Nationa Guard. Is it possible to get a waiver to become a Chaplain Candidate? If my time in service is subtracted from my age I would well below the 42 year old age limit. I have heard conflicting statements about this issue and would appreciate your opinion.
Dan, I suggest that you contact the chaplain recruiter again. Let him know how your weight loss is progressing and when you expect to be on target for meeting the weight standards. The paperwork process must involve the chaplain recruiter. Frankly, if you’re not already motivated to meet the minimum standards for military service, doing the paperwork is only going to make it worse. Filling out Army forms and submitting your accessions packet is similar to filing a federal tax return in its complexity. Keep working hard and keep communicating with the chaplain recruiter. Drop a note if you need some assistance with developing a PT plan.
Mark, you are not locked into a service commitment as a chaplain candidate. You do not have a service commitment until you are accessioned as a chaplain. The initial commitment is three years.
Dean, I recommend talking with your endorser and a chaplain recruiter about the details of your situation. Requirements for chaplaincy are the same for RA, USAR, and USARNG. The requirement for ministry experience is not dropped in the USARNG. Depending on your situation, your endorser may give you an endorsement even if you don’t have two full years of pastoral ministry, but that is decided on a case-by-case basis, and you must have some credible period of ministry.
Moving from USARNG to RA primarily requires a release from your state. There are other considerations, but it is unlikely that your state will immediately release you to AD. Talk to your state’s senior chaplain about this, though he will probably not be thrilled with the idea of gaining a chaplain with the intent of losing him as soon as possible to the RA.
If your goal is to come on active duty, you need to get this ball rolling because of your age–please contact a chaplain recruiter ASAP.
Ryan, there are very few AGR chaplain slots. The slots that are available require that you come from either AC or RC with time in service already; you should not expect to immediately step into one of these positions.
As to the benefits of each, I can’t say much because AGR positions are varied. If your goal is to have an active duty job without leaving home, I don’t recommend the chaplaincy because we need men who are ready to go wherever ministry requires. Take a visit to your nearest Army installation: attend chapel services and talk with some of the chaplains. This will give you some insight into AD chaplaincy.
Paul, your ability to become a chaplain candidate would hinge on your age upon completing seminary and ministry requirements. You must be within the age requirements when you are ready to accession, not when you enter the candidate program. Talk with a chaplain recruiter about the details of your situation as he can help you evaluate your options based on where you are in the process of qualifying for chaplaincy.
Sir,
I am very interested in becoming a chaplains candidate. I am currently active duty USAF and just re-enlisted. I am in my last semster of my Bachlors degree. I wanted to know if you have heard of anyone going from active duty USAF to the candidate program? Also once you are finished with the candidate program how hard is it to go active duty Army as a chaplain? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sir, I have a son is currently a Chaplain Candidate in the PA National Guard. He was just selected for promotion to CPT. My question is he is being told that he will not be promoted because he is a Chaplain Candidate. ANy advice?
Missy
Martin, I’ve not heard of a specific case. Contact an Army chaplain recruiter to discuss the details of your situation. USAF will need to release you to the Army, and I’m not familiar with how the specifics work. There are USAF enlisted and officers who make the switch to the Army (but not as chaplains/candidates), so there should be some precedent.
Going AD depends on your desire and qualifications. Search the site for info on accessions boards.
If you have any other specific questions, feel free to email using the contact form.
Missy, his status as a chaplain candidate should have nothing to do with his promotion. By regulation, promotions cannot be denied for such a reason. If his state command is not responsive to his inquiries, I suggest that he contact the Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains for assistance. This may be entirely an internal state matter, but OCCH should be able to advise your son and/or talk with the state command.
Congratulations to your son on his promotion. I’m not sure what the current percentage is of chaplain candidates being promoted from 1LT to CPT, but when I was a candidate, it was 14%. I was thankful that I made the list just before entering AD.
Sir,
I have another question. If I stayed in USAF active duty and then finished my Masters of divinity and then go active duty in the US Army as a chaplain. I have 7 years experience as a minsiter before I entered the service. Woudl this cout as valid experience or does it have to be post graduate experience. I have not been full time in minsitry due to constant PCSs and being away from my home church. I wanted to do the chaplains candidate progam to get back into ministry, however the USAF will not release me at this time. I dont want to wait untill the end of my enlistment to go to seminary just to enter the Chaplains Candidate program, and yet I want to show that I have valid ministry experience. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Blessings,
Martin
Martin, the requirement is for at least 2 years of ministry experience after seminary. However, waivers are granted, provided that your endorser is willing to accept your pastoral ministry completed prior to/during seminary as qualifying for denominational requirements. Also, realize that this requirement is pastoral ministry, not serving as a Sunday school teacher, church janitor, or many other worthy ministry positions. Your endorser may have strict requirements as to what it considers pastoral ministry.
Hello Sir,
Recently, I was accepted in seminary in California, and I want to be a active duty chaplain. Also, I want to get in Chaplain Candidate program in order to finish CHBOLC during summers. So, is it possible to be an Active Duty Chaplain right after graduation?
Thanks,
James
Chaplain sparks,
In your experiences would you say that those who approve the waivers are more lenient than on those going in the Chaplain/CC program? Is it possible to apply for more than one type of waiver, i.e., age and medical? I am 46, I have 8 yrs prior service (active duty & National Guard) and 7 yrs full time ministry (Associate Pastor 2-1/2 yrs & Senior Pastor 4-1/2 yrs). I’m working on my Bachelor’s now and if I continue at the pace I am going now I should graduate Seminary by age 50 or 51. At what point can I apply for the CC program. And once in are you locked in to the CC or can one be assigned to another Branch?
Can I move to other states while I am in the National Guard Chaplain Candidate?
I would like to become an army chaplain I am currently deployed to Iraq. I am in ACo 307th BSB. I have an associates of arts in biblical studies and I am not sure how to go about getting in the program to become a chaplain. I appreciate any advice.
CH Sparks,
I wanted to first thank you for your time, commitment, and advice to those possibly pursuing a career as a chaplain. I have been selected as a CC and am waiting for my DD form to be sworn in. Do you know how long this usually takes to receive the paperwork? Also, my wife and I are feeling the Lord calling me into Active Duty and I know that there is a requirement of 2 years of ministry experience. I am a high school teacher, so I am trying to get as much as possible on the side. Do you know what “ministry experience” constitutes? Thank you for your time and advice.
in Christ
2LT Todaro
LT Todaro,
I just got accepted in the may CC board too. My recruiter told me that they are relocating the holding area where the keep the paper work, could be up to 8 months
I am looking into Chaplains Candidate program, I currently hold my B.S. in Church Ministries and begin what would have been my Masters, but will now be my MDiv in August. I am looking at using the TA to help with the cost of school. I currently have some experience of working at churches, but am not sure what experience I will be able to receive after seminary. If I have already been in the program for the time I am in school, would my service requirements not start until after I have received those 2 yrs experience if for some reason I am unable to receive a waiver? Also, are you allowed to move within a state while you are enlisted in the reserves? Thanks in advance for your time and help
My husband is looking to become a chaplain. He gets his MDiv next May (2011) and has never been in the army or guard or reserve. He has been a full-time pastor for 4 years now.
We were told today that there isn’t much of a need anymore for protestant chaplains. Is this correct?
Chaplain Sparks,
thank you for your dedication to the Chaplain Candidate Corp. I read your response in block 18 above about promotion to CPT as a Chaplain Candidate. I have three years TIG as a 1LT and have been told by unit and State representatives that promotion to CPT is restricted by Army policy. My unit has even tried a work-around by moving me into my previous branch (armor), promoting me to CPT and then working up my packet again back into the Chaplain Candidate program. This was wisely decided against and am currently being retained in the Chaplain Candidate program. I am not finding anything the affirms what you said in block 18, but if it is true then my promotion to CPT should not be withheld for any reason. Please advise and help…
thank in advance,
I have served four years in the Marine Corps and have ten years experience as a pastor. I have a BA and a MA in theology/pastoral studies, but my MA is 36 hours and not 72. Do they grant waivers to allow me to serve as a chaplain with the 36 hour MA?
Please email any information, I didn’t select the proper notification before submitting my prior comment. Thanks!
I have been waiting for almost a year to get my CC package in for processing. Does the Army really needs Chaplain Candidates? Please advise.
How long does it take to get the paperwork processed? I have been waiting for a year, National Guard.