Table of contents for Boots on the Ground
- Boots On the Ground: Abu Ghraib Hospital
- Boots On the Ground: Honoring a fallen soldier
- Boots on the Ground: Civil Affairs
- Boots On the Ground: Lt. General Vines reports
- Boots on the Ground: American-Iraqi Range
- Boots on the Ground: Iraqi critters
- Boots on the Ground: Riding the Rhino
- Boots on the Ground: September 11 Remembrance
- Boots on the Ground: Sergeant Major’s security team
- Boots On the Ground: Chaplain Assistant
- Boots on the Ground: MP’s receive Silver Stars
- Boots On the Ground: Kevlar helmet saves soldier
- Boots On the Ground: Army retention goals
Okay, you’ve been through the paperwork and your packet went before the chaplain candidate appointment board. You were approved and you’ve received your appointment packet, sworn the oath of office, and mailed the papers in. You’ve received your commission and your letter of appointment to the IRR. Now what?
Education
The most important thing you can do as a chaplain candidate is to continue your education. The chaplain candidate manager requires that you complete at least nine hours of coursework each semester (full-time status); eighteen completed hours per academic year is the prerequisite for candidate training. So, if you drop out of school or drop below full time, don’t expect to stay in the program.
Additionally, by October 1 of each year, you should submit ARPC Form 1046-1 to the candidate manager. This form must be signed by your school registrar, stating that you are enrolled full-time in a qualified educational program. This form provides a waiver from active duty. If you do not file this form, you are subject to being called up; if you are called up to active duty–and as a chaplain candidate, you are not yet branch-qualified to serve as a chaplain–you could be required to fulfill your military obligation in another branch. This is theoretical, of course, because the Army doesn’t want chaplain candidates on active duty who have yet to complete the requirements of branch qualification (whether chaplaincy or some other branch). If you happen to be a prior service officer who is now in the candidate program, I strongly urge that you keep this form updated! It may save you the headache of a mistaken callup (because you are already qualified in some other branch).
Church
The second most important thing for you to do as a chaplain candidate is to meet the qualifications for ordination by your denomination. This varies by denomination, obviously. However, it is important that you are involved in a local church now. It is also important that, as soon as possible, you become involved in your local section, district, presbytery, deanery, diocese, or council. If no one in your denomination knows you, except for your endorser, the possibility of you gaining ministry experience is very little.
If you happen to work in ministry while in seminary, verify with your endorser whether this ministry may meet your denomination’s requirements for chaplaincy endorsement. Most denominations require ministry experience to be completed after seminary in order for you to be endorsed as a chaplain. In fact, the Army itself prefers this sequence and, if you are endorsed without post-seminary ministry experience, your endorser will be required to provide a written statement affirming that he is endorsing you without such post-seminary experience.
Training
Perhaps the sole reason you became a chaplain candidate was to complete military training. See upcoming installments of this series for information about training opportunities (CHOBC and Practicums).
Surviving
The mere fact that you now have a gold bar on your collar doesn’t mean you know what being an officer is about or how to survive in military life. If you’ve had prior service, you have a leg up. Either way, read the forthcoming post in this series entitled Surviving in the Army.
I am currently enlisted and in Iraq. I have secured my ecclsiastical endorsement and they will sumit my packet for me this summer upon my return. This information is so helpful to me. I have a million questions and anything I can get will help me. I would like to speak to people who are or have gone through Liberty Univsersity.
Hey Hector. I just got accepted into the program, just pinned on 2LT and I am just finishing up my Bachelor’s degree through Liberty. I start the M. Div this fall. If you want have some questions let me know and I will help you as much as I can.
Hector, I thought that you had to currently be in seminary BEFORE you can join the chaplain candidate program. How did you get the 2LT pinned on before seminary? Also as a candidate, do you have to attend Chaplain Officer Basic Course, or will you attend that AFTER you graduate? What courses will you have to attend as a Candidate?
You can join the candidate program during your senior year of college if you want, I did. I do not start Seminary until this Fall. I do have to attend the Chaplain Basic course, I believe the only ones that are except are people who have already attended an Army Officer school. I was not able to attend CHBOLC this summer, but I hope to attend in the Winter. The Army wants you to complete the first part of the basic course as soon as you can, phases 2 and 3 of the training aren’t completed until the summer before you graduate from Seminary.
Great post. Thanks, Fr. Sparks.
Kevin H,
I’m in my junior year at LU studying for my degree in religion. I’m also active duty AF. Any help would be great. I would prefer staying AF but it looks as if the army may have a better program. Thanks in advance and congrats sir!
G Mason,
I was active duty AF for 8 years before I got out and decided to go back to college. I would highly suggest that if you want to stay AF, then speak to an AF Chaplain recruiter, not a regular recruiter, and see what they can do for you. One of the reasons I didn’t go AF was that I felt that I had to have my degree finished before they would even speak to me. I was told that someone would call me back and they never would, so I didn’t feel like they wanted me. I went the Army Reserves route because the need seemed to be greater there and I felt that they truly wanted me, I just felt the AF was sorta like “we couldn’t care less” and this call was very important to me. The Army put me into the Chaplain Candidate program during my senior year, and now I am planning on going to the Chaplains Basic Officer Leadership Course this winter hopefully. I spoke with one of the Chaplain recruiters in Illinois and he was very good, he answered all of my questions and didn’t put any pressure on me to make a decision. Keep in mind that the decision is yours and do not let anyone discourage you. If you need specific questions answered, I would be glad to answer them. Good luck with your decision!
Kevin H.