Full Time
You will serve in the active Army, with an initial duty of three years.
Part Time
Serving in the Army Reserve means you’ll still have a civilian job, but you’ll train each month close to home and complete a two-week training exercise once a year. This way you will be trained and ready if called. And, of course, you’ll be able to bring invaluable experience back to your civilian ministry.
Chaplain Requirements
- You must obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your faith group. This endorsement should certify that you are:
- A clergy person in your denomination or faith group.
- Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a Chaplain in the Army.
- Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army.
- Educationally, you must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours.
- Possess a master’s degree in divinity or a graduate degree in theological studies, which includes at least 72 semester hours.
- Applicants for active duty or the National Guard MUST be U.S. citizens. Permanent residents can ONLY apply for the Army Reserve.
- Be able to receive a favorable National Agency Security Clearance.
- Pass a physical exam at one of our Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).
- A minimum of two years of full-time professional experience, validated by the applicant’s endorsing agency (This requirement is not applicable to Army Reserve applicants).
- Must be at least 21 years of age and not older than 42 years of age at time of appointment. Age waivers are available, based on prior military service, and are considered for applicants from faith groups that are critically short of supply in the Army.
[Taken from GoArmy.com.]
My son wants to become a front line Chaplain. We have been trying to see what would be the best educational route to begin with. He is currently a rising junior in high school. He has been told to enlist, serve four years, then continue his education. (He will be attending Concordia, Mequon, and for his Phd Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis). His main goal is to best serve the men and women of the military. He has contimplated getting his undergrad degree in psychology rather than history (his other love), and was told to obtain his undergrad and seminary while in ROTC…What do you suggest, as you know the greatest need and the requirements to serve the need of our enlisted men and women? Any assistance or pearls of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Cynthia, I recommend reading other articles on this site, particularly those about the chaplain candidate program.
Unless your son has some particular interest in serving as an enlisted Soldier prior to becoming an officer (which can certainly be a legitimate desire), there is no definite advantage to him enlisting before continuing his education–unless there are personal circumstances that alter the situation.
Were I in your son’s situation, I would go to college and join ROTC. After graduating, I would begin seminary and become a chaplain candidate. (Serving as a chaplain candidate would waive the ROTC requirement for immediate military service upon graduation from college; one cannot be in ROTC while in seminary.) After graduating seminary, being ordained, and gaining ministry experience, I would apply for AD.
His particular selection of undergraduate program is not crucial to his future as a chaplain. Of course, some studies may be more useful than others, but any bachelor degree from an accredited school will meet the requirement.
Enrollment in a doctoral program may change all of this, however. If he wants to earn bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees consecutively, he will not be able to participate in ROTC or the chaplain candidate program. ROTC requires immediate AD service upon college graduation (unless waived as noted above). If he is granted a waiver while in seminary and the chaplain candidate program, he would be required to serve on AD after seminary–not skip service and go on to a doctoral program. Alternatively, If he went on AD after seminary, he could later earn a doctorate through extension or modular programs or after leaving military service. Or he could simply forgo ROTC and the chaplain candidate program altogether and wait until after earning his doctorate to become a chaplain.
As a parent, you know better than I about your son’s situation. However, I would caution you and him about the far-reaching details of his educational and career goals. As a high school junior, it may be wise to take a slower approach to deciding questions as far into the future as what school he will attend to earn a Ph.D. It is good to have a dream and a plan to make it happen, but there are lots of variables that can change that far into the future. If he is disciplined and passionate about his future, he can make these things happen, but there will be legitimate issues that arise which may require altering his plans. I wish you both the best in making and carrying out these decisions. We certainly need quality chaplains, and I am sure there will be a spot for him when the time comes.