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.

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, 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.