One of the most critical pieces in the chaplain candidate life cycle–and in the chaplaincy in general–is the ecclesiastical endorsement. For chaplain candidates, this is actually referred to as “ecclesiastical approval” instead of “ecclesiastical endorsement”. You will get nowhere as a prospective chaplain candidate/chaplain if you do not have an ecclesiastical approval/endorsement.

What is an ecclesiastical endorsement? Each denomination or endorsing body that is recognized by the Department of Defense provides endorsement for chaplains. This endorsement states that the chaplain is an ordained cleric in good standing of the respective denomination or body. It also states that the chaplain has completed a certain number of years of ministry experience and that the denomination approves of the chaplain serving as a military chaplain. For chaplain candidates, the ecclesiastical approval is simply a certification that the candidate is pursuing fulfillment of the requirements for chaplaincy and is recognized as a member in good standing of the denomination or body. (Form DD2088 is for ecclesiastical endorsement.)

If you do not have an approval, you will not be commissioned or appointed to the chaplain candidate program. You will not receive an ecclesiastical approval by simply calling up your denominational headquarters and asking that one be sent out in the next day’s mail. Your denomination will require that you fill out some paperwork, perhaps meet with the endorser for an interview, and that you provide documentation that you are enrolled in seminary. Your endorser may also require that you be presently working toward the denominational requirements for ordination (perhaps through some form of non-ordained certification or licensure).

Once you have met with your endorser and fulfilled all the denominational requirements for the ecclesiastical approval, the endorser will submit the approval to the Chief of Chaplains office. Request that the endorser also send you a copy (preferably a certified copy) for your records; this may be useful to you later, particularly if you ever change denominations. Your chaplain recruiter may also request that a copy be submitted directly to him. Your recruiter will not submit your packet for the chaplain candidate appointment board without your ecclesiastical approval being on record.

After you are commissioned and appointed a chaplain candidate, you will not be allowed to continue as a candidate if, for any reason, your ecclesiastical approval is withdrawn. If you happen to change denominations while a chaplain candidate, make sure that no period of time passes between the date your former denomination withdraws its approval and your new denomination submits its approval. If you lose your ecclesiastical approval, you will be separated from the military!

If your endorser requires that you submit progress reports, letters, copies of your grades from seminary, or any other documentation; or, if he makes any other requirements; be certain that you keep these things up to date. Do not give your endorser any reason to drop your approval. Do not give him any reason to think you have disappeared from the face of the earth or that you are not interested in chaplaincy any longer. It is better to contact your endorser too often than too infrequently. After all, when it comes time for you to accession to active duty (or a reserve appointment), if your endorser doesn’t know who you are or remember you, it may be a little hard to receive an updated ecclesiastical endorsement.

You’ve decide to take the plunge and become a chaplain–or at least to become a chaplain candidate and test the water. The work has just begun.

The first part of serving as an Army chaplain candidate is submitting a packet for the appointment board. First, let’s run over the list of things you should already have at this point:

If you’ve already taken care of those matters, let’s move on.

The appointment packet requires that you complete a lot of paperwork. Here are some things that will be required:

There are more forms to complete; your chaplain recruiter will let you know what they are. Be certain that you complete them all in their entirety and that you provide truthful information. If you are unsure of what information is required for a particular document, ask your recruiter. In all of your answers, be truthful!

To help you prepare for completing the appointment process, here are a few more details.

Physical Exam
You must submit to a physical exam as soon as possible. You will be required to go to the nearest Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for a complete physical. At the MEPS, you will complete forms about your medical background; go prepared with a list of any medications you are taking, information about any time you’ve been hospitalized or suffered a significant injury or illness, and be ready for uncomfortable questions and poking.

You will be required to provide a urine sample for drug and disease testing; you will be given a breath alcohol test; you will be checked for hernias; your teeth will be examined; etc. You will be required to bend and squat, to waddle and twist; this is simply a part of ensuring that your body is able to function normally.

While you’re going through all of these pleasantries, remember this mantra: Do it for your country! Do NOT forget to get at least one certified working copy of your physical exam paperwork before you leave MEPS.

School
You must provide transcripts of your undergraduate and seminary work. Contact your schools as soon as possible and arrange to have official transcripts mailed directly to your recruiter. Most schools require that their transcripts remain sealed to be official; don’t send in an opened copy or a student copy–it may be rejected. Some schools require at least a couple of weeks to process transcript requests; order early.

If you have not yet matriculated at seminary, you will need to provide a copy of your acceptance letter.

Security Clearance
Starting well in advance of the deadline for your packet to be in, begin scouring your memory and your records for information that will go on your security clearance questionnaire. You will be required to list every address at which you have lived in the last seven years (including temporary school addresses), how long you lived there, and the contact information for someone who knew you when you lived at that address. You will need to provide names, birth dates, and current addresses and phone numbers for your parents and siblings. You will need to list every job you’ve had in the last seven years (including dates for periods of unemployment), the dates you worked at each, and the contact information for your supervisors.

You will be required to give information about any past due debts you currently have or any accounts that have been significantly overdue. Your credit report will be pulled by the investigators–order a copy for yourself now to make sure it shows correct information and that you include all the correct information on the questionnaire. (I suggest that you order a report from each of the three national agencies; you are entitled to one free report each year.) Do not leave out any information about past due accounts!

You will need to provide information about any arrests. If you formerly led a wild life, be forthcoming. It is essential that you are honest.

It is not necessary that your security investigation be completed before you receive an appointment; however, you will need to submit the questionnaire before the appointment board convenes. Rest assured, your investigation will not be complete any time soon unless something really unusual happens. Before the clearance is granted, an investigator may call to set up an appointment with you to go over any questions he has. Cooperate fully. If there are any concerns about your background (arrests or financial concerns), someone other than the investigator will make an in-depth review and decide whether your clearance can be granted; don’t panic if this happens. Even if the adjudicator wishes to deny your clearance, you will be given the opportunity to contest the decision and to provide any additional information that may be useful.

Read about the security investigation, download the software, and get to work now.

Other Things
There may be other minor things you will need to complete before your packet is ready. Again, follow the instructions of your recruiter.

Talk with your recruiter to determine when you want to have your packet before a board. Boards meet once each month from February through November. Remember that, if you have questions, it’s always best to ask. The chaplain recruiter’s goal is to get you appointed as a chaplain candidate. Communicate to him your needs or concerns.

Give yourself plenty of time in advance of the target board. There is no way you will be able to get all of this done within the last two weeks before a board convenes. All of these things may seem daunting, but don’t give up. It’s not as difficult as it sounds!

Once the board has reviewed your packet, you will learn of its decision approximately thirty days after the board recesses.

There is one more important piece of the appointment process. Please read Part 2 for this vital information.