He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

I remember reading this scripture verse when I completed Basic Training and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a Combat Engineer, 21 Bravo. I didn’t really knowing what God had in store for my military career. The moment I met a chaplain, it changed everything that I thought about ministry and the military—and how chaplains are to be shepherds and pastors to the flock they’re in charge of. All the chaplains I met exhibited calmness and peace that I wanted to emulate and to serve other soldiers with.

I am with the South Carolina National Guard; after I returned home from Missouri, I remained enlisted for about a year. However, I felt an overwhelming call by God to put my packet in to become a chaplain candidate. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the overwhelming sensation I had to pursue this calling, but I knew time was ticking and that I had to act. I went through a recruiter in my state and submitted my packet. I had my doubts about the process and wasn’t sure I would be selected, but God carried me through.

In March 2011, I received a direct commission to the rank of Second Lieutenant, promoted from E-4 (Specialist) to O-1. U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)—in whose D.C. office I had worked as an intern—called to congratulate me and wish me well on God’s calling. I worked with my church and began seminary. I can see that God had me in the right place at the right time: I was already in the military and loved God and serving others, so chaplaincy was God’s right call for me.

It was hard at first going from a Specialist to a Second Lieutenant, but God was with me and blessed me with an incredible unit, a great battalion chaplain, and a brigade chaplain who helped me along the process. After less than a year with my unit, I received orders to go to CH-BOLC. I will admit, at first I had reservations: “What if there are chaplains with more experience than me? I don’t know what to expect or what this will be like compared to Basic and AIT.” At age 25, I didn’t see how God could use me compared to everyone else who had served in the Army longer or had been in ministry longer. But God brought me to CH-BOLC where I was with his people.

At CH-BOLC, I was never alone because my classmates and I were all brothers and sisters in uniform with the same calling from God to be there. It was great to meet people from all over the country who had the same passion, some with different views, but all with the same calling. We could share our love and service of God with one other and with other soldiers.

God gave me an incredible opportunity at CH-BOLC. I learned so much about how to minister in a military setting, military bearing, background of the Chaplain Corps and the Army. It built on my previous knowledge when I had been a combat engineer. During my time at CH-BOLC, I carried 2^nd Platoon’s guidon the entire time, served as a squad leader, carried the Chaplain Corps crest box (because I was the youngest), and won the “back half” award for praying in a unique manner for which I was well known.

I learned a lot at CH-BOLC! God can use anyone who lets him. I could not be prouder to represent God and wear the Army uniform. I look forward to serving soldiers and, one day, going through the accessions board to wear the chaplain’s cross.

As a chaplain candidate, where can I complete training practicums?

Each year, chaplain candidates are allowed to participate in training practicums at Army installations around the United States. There are also limited opportunities to train in Europe. These practicums are generally 30-45 days long. During the training, candidates work side-by-side with an active duty Army chaplain. Candidates observe chaplains while they visit, counsel, attend meetings, plan programs, lead religious services, and perform other duties.

So, chaplain candidates want to know which locations they can go to for practicums. Each year, the chaplain candidate manager publishes a list of practicums that are available for the upcoming fiscal year. This list names the installations, dates available, and any special requirements or opportunities for each practicum. Candidates should contact the candidate manager in order to volunteer for one of these practicums. Training locations vary by year and availability of each installation to support candidate training. If you would like to train at a particular installation but don’t see it listed, ask the candidate manager if the installation can accommodate your training anyway.

Do chaplain candidates deploy?

No. Chaplain candidates are in a training status. As such, they are nondeployable. Because chaplain candidates have not yet met the requirements to serve as chaplains, they would be unable to provide any ministerial function while deployed.

If you are a candidate and want to deploy, make your first priority fulfilling the requirements for accessioning as a chaplain.

As a chaplain candidate, will the Army pay me while I’m in seminary?

The short answer is “no”.

Chaplain candidates belong to either USAR or USARNG. No Reserve or Guard Soldiers are paid except when they train. USARNG chaplain candidates are paid when they drill, attend CHBOLC, or participate in candidate training practicums. USAR candidates are paid when they attend CHBOLC or participate in candidate training practicums.

Chaplain candidates are not members of the AC. Even if a candidate intends to go RA after completing seminary and being accessioned as a chaplain, he will not be paid by the Army while in seminary, while completing ministry experience, or at any point other than while on active duty for training.

WASHINGTON – Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Alec Scott felt a higher calling at a young age that led him not only down a military path, but down a religious one as well.

Scott is studying to be a Catholic priest at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., while also preparing for a career as an Army chaplain.

“I started considering the priesthood in high school,” he said. “The more I considered it, the more I was convinced it was where I was being called to serve.”

Scott said he also felt a strong draw toward the Army, a result of his family’s deep military roots. His father, retired Maj. Gen. Bruce Scott, and grandfathers served in the Army, and his five siblings all followed in their father’s military footsteps. Four are serving in the Army and one is in the Air Force.

READ MORE from DVIDS

Chaplain candidates recently received an email stating educational requirements for the Chaplain Candidate program are changing. Many Chaplain Candidates have found themselves working towards a degree which will not fulfill the requirements of the military. Previously, someone with a 60 hour degree plus 12 more hours in theological studies was qualified for the military chaplaincy. Another options was to have a 36 hour degree plus an additional 36 hour degree to be eligible for the military chaplaincy. According to new guidelines, this is not the case anymore. The military now requires candidates to be working towards a minimum of a 72 hour degree, Master of Divinity (typically 90 hours) also fulfills the requirements.

I felt this information would be beneficial for someone seeking to serve as a military chaplain. If you are in the early stages of your degree and have already been working with a recruiter, it would be in your best interest to verify the degree you are currently working towards will fulfill military requirements since the requirements have recently changed. God bless you in your pursuit to serve God and your country.

Perhaps one of the most difficult steps of becoming a Chaplain or Chaplain Candidate is finding a recruiter to speak to face to face. Not because recruiters do not want to talk to you or give you information, recruiters typically go out of their way to get you information you need, but because the typical recruiter in your hometown is set up to recruit enlisted personnel. Not only are you asking the recruiter about becoming an officer, you are asking about becoming a Chaplain. Some of you who live in larger cities may have an actual officers recruiting office, this may make things a little easier for you, but the reality is they do not send many Chaplains through. You may experience some slight delays as the recruiter searches to put you in contact with the right individuals. Rest assured, these men and women are professionals at what they do and they will get you the information you need and put you in contact with a Chaplain recruiter.

Once you have been contacted by a recruiter, he or she will send you information packets usually through email and regular mail. One of the first things you will be asked to submit is a pre-screen questionnaire. This allows the military to find out basic information about you such as your age, height and weight, whether you are ordained, your faith group, educational history, prior or non-prior service, and medical history. This information will allow the Army to pre-determine if you are potentially eligible to serve in the military. Once you return this questionnaire, the recruiting team will begin the application process. If everything looks good on your questionnaire, you will receive notification from a member of the recruiting team, and they will send you a FedEx package with the forms needed to begin the application process.

The packet you receive is an application you will need to complete. Other items you will need to include in this packet before returning it to the recruiting team is a short essay (one page) on why you want to serve as a Chaplain, previous work experience (ministry), questionnaire for national security clearance, and a full length photo of yourself. Clear instructions will be provided as to how to complete this packet. You can have all of this information complete within a day. Once you sent it back, the recruiter will request a copy of your academic transcript. You need to be enrolled in graduate school to be accepted as a Chaplain Candidate (or a graduate of graduate school to be accepted as a Chaplain). Once you have completed this step, you will need to begin working on receiving your endorsement from your denominational endorser.

This step of the process will most likely vary depending on the endorsing body. I can tell you, based on my experience, this is a somewhat lengthy process. The recruiter will provide you with the name and a contact at your endorsing body. Once you contact the endorser, they will provide you with the instructions to begin the application for endorsement process. In my case, I was able to log on to my endorser’s website and complete the application electronically. This required writing several paragraphs which clarified my beliefs. Once you complete the application, you will most likely have to be interviewed by your endorsing body. In my case, a phone interview took place; active duty may require an in-person interview. This process can take 1 week to 6 months to complete, depending on the endorsing body.

So now you have been endorsed by your endorsing body. You can begin the actual military application process now. Your recruiter will send you a medical pre-screen questionnaire. Complete this as soon as possible, and get it back to your recruiter so he can schedule your military physical. Your recruiter will set you up an appointment at your local MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) for your physical. Plan on being there early and remaining there most of the day. It is nothing difficult, just usually a lot of waiting. Once you complete/pass your physical, MEPS will forward your results to your recruiter. Your application is now complete and will be verified for completion of all required items.

Your recruiter will let you know when the Accession Board will meet to review applications. The Accession Board will meet and review your application. If you are accepted, your recruiter will call you to notify you and congratulate you. Typically you will receive your Oath of Office 30 -60 days following the board. Once you execute your oath, you will be a commissioned officer. This wraps up the appointment process. Next you will be contacted by the Chaplain Candidate Manager who will assist you in setting up training and getting you assigned to a unit.

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) – More than 170 Army chaplain candidates gathered on the flightline here July 14 to receive training in the honors given to fallen servicemembers during dignified transfers of human remains.

Last August, officials at the Army Chaplain Center and School at Fort Jackson, S.C., began coordinating with Charleston Air Force Base officials to provide a learning environment for students enrolled in the school’s Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course.

To closely simulate what would actually be seen during a real dignified transfer, a Charleston AFB C-17 Globemaster III was used, along with the help of Charleston AFB honor guard members with training in dignified transfer procedures.

“Imagine if you’d never done one of these before,” said Army Chap. (Maj.) Robert Hart, the staff group leader and ethics instructor for the CH-BOLC. “The very first one I got tasked with, I had never done before and I was in Iraq. They said, ‘Chaplain, we took losses, and we want to do the right thing.’”

READ MORE from the U.S. Air Force