MOS 56A—Chaplain


Chaplain Description / Major Duties:

Chaplains accompany Soldiers all over the world as they carry out their missions. And while you minister to the Soldiers, you and your family will be enriched as you are exposed to new places, new peoples, and new cultures. Your faith will be enriched, challenged, and strengthened as you carry out your duties as the spiritual leader in the spiritual community known as the Army.

All Army Chaplains are coupled with an enlisted soldier known as a Chaplain Assistant. Together they form the Unit Ministry Team (UMT). To military types they're simply referred to as the UMT. The UMT is inseparable in duty. Due to the non-combatant status of a Chaplain, the Chaplain Assistant is responsible for the security of the team. Fully trained in Soldier tasks and religious support matters, the Chaplain Assistant rounds out the ministry of the UMT.

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 graduate degree in theological or religious studies, plus have earned at least a total of 72 semester hours in graduate work in these fields of study.
  • 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, but younger than 45 at time of appointment. Prior service applicants with at least 3 years of prior AFS or creditable USAR service must be younger than 47 at time of appointment.

 

Chaplain Training

Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates do not go through Basic Training. Instead, they attend the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course (CBOLC), which is a 12-week course taught at the USA Chaplains Center and School (USACHCS) in Fort Jackson, S.C. Instruction at USACHCS is conducted by highly trained, professional, and experienced Army officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

CBOLC provides an introduction to the non-combatant common core skills, Army writing and Chaplaincy-specific training. Classroom and field training is dynamic, fun, and interactive. CBOLC is conducted in four phases. Each phase must be taken sequentially. However, the entire course does not have to be taken in the same year.

Chaplain Initial Military Training

A four-week resident course that teaches non-combatant common core skills such as map reading, military customs and courtesies, operations in field conditions and combat survival. Attendance is required for Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates who have no prior Army officer training. It is optional for others.

Phase I

A two-week course that focuses on Army writing and correspondence. This course can be completed by correspondence for Chaplains whose first duty assignment will be in a reserve component.

Phase II and Phase III

Two three-week resident courses of instruction in Army-specific Chaplain duties. This training gives Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates the ability to apply their civilian chaplain and pastoral skills in the Army environment.

Options and Incentives for Chaplains:

In order to attract qualified ministers to serve as Army Chaplains, we offer the follow programs.


Army Reserve Chaplain Bonus

The Army Reserve is now offering a bonus of $10,000 for ministers entering a USA Reserve Troop Program Unit (TPU) with a six year commitment. The bonus is payable in a lump sum following the completion of the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course (CBOLC), which must be completed within 36 months of commissioning.

Army Chaplains who are currently serving in the Regular Army and decide to leave it in order to serve in a U.S. Army Reserve TPU are eligible for an Affiliation Bonus of $10,000.

Chaplain Buddy Program

If an individual desiring to enter Active Duty will identify and recruit another clergy associate for the Active Duty Chaplaincy, both will be guaranteed assignment to the same installation during their initial active duty service obligation (ADSO) tour. One or both applicants may be reservist chaplains.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

The guarantee under this program is for initial assignment, not for accessions selection. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board. If either applicant fails selection, neither is required to complete the appointment process.

1. The guarantee under this program is for initial assignment only. At the end of the ADSO period, both chaplains may be reassigned to different locations. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board. If either applicant fails selection, neither is required to complete the appointment process.
2. If an installation chaplain is the "recruiter" and that installation is not selected as the assignment of choice then the "recruiter" installation will be guaranteed a "fill" for their efforts.
3. Chaplain recruits from under-represented or low-density faith groups will be considered for this program on a case-by-case basis.
4. Installations eligible for consideration under this program will normally be limited to where FORSCOM and TRADOC units are located. Other installations will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations.
5. The Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations (DACH-PER) will make decisions concerning eligibility for program participation before commitments are finalized with potential recruits.

Aloha, Edelweiss And ROK Program

A limited number of reserve chaplain and mature civilian applicants for the Active Duty Chaplaincy may pre-select Hawaii (Aloha), Europe (Edelweiss) or South Korea (ROK) as their first duty assignment. Chaplain Candidates are not eligible for participation in this program.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

The guarantee under this program is for initial assignment, not for accessions selection. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board. If either applicant fails selection, neither is required to complete the appointment process.

1. This program is intended for use by Chaplain Recruiters and chaplains assigned to Hawaii, Korea and USAREUR for new accessions on a first-come, first-served basis. Mature civilians are those who have had clear pastoral experience (no PWE waivers) and/or who have previously worked in the requested country.
2. The guarantee under this program is for the requested country during the initial ADSO tour only. Pinpoint assignment within the requested area is the responsibility of the local PER Manager. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board.
3. Chaplain recruits from under-represented or low-density faith groups will be considered for this program on a case-by-case basis.
4. The DACH-PER will determine the number of available assignment slots prior to the start of the Accessioning Year. This number may be adjusted during the year depending on the needs of the Army.
5. The Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations (DACH-PER) will make decisions concerning eligibility for program participation before commitments are finalized with potential recruits.

Article Last Modified: February 21, 2011

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