FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the education requirements to be an Army
chaplain?
You must have completed
your baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
and completed a Master of Divinity or the equivalent
degree (90 graduate
semester hours). If you have the baccalaureate degree but not
the M.Div or
equivalent, you may qualify for the chaplain candidate program.
The National
Guard is looking for
qualified clergy to minister to our Christian, Jewish,
Islamic,
Catholic, and Orthodox soldiers.
How much will I be paid as a U.S. National Guard
Chaplain?
As a guard Chaplain, you
will initially be paid as a First-Lieutenant or
Captain,
depending on your experience and qualifications. During a two-day,
week-end drill you will at least earn between $272 and $312.
While you attend
your two-week annual training you will earn the normal
monthly active duty pay,
a subsistence allowance, and quarters allowance for
the days you are on duty.
Please write or call your
recruiter for the most up-to-date information on Army
pay.
I am a seminary student and I don’t have much free
time except in the summer. Do
I have to attend a "drill" weekend once a
month?
No. Seminary students as
Chaplain Candidates do not attend monthly drills with
guard units. During the summer, you will attend school at
CHOBC (see below).
After you complete CHOBC,
you could spend up to 45 days each year in training;
such as, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or On-the-job
Training (OJT) with an
active duty chaplain. All the while, you will be earning
Second Lieutenant’s pay
and allowances.
What benefits will I receive in addition to my pay?
You will have full Post
Exchange (PX) and limited commissary visits for you and
your family. You will have limited medical benefits that
include a physical exam
every 5 years and immunizations as needed. You and your
family will also be able
to use many of the on-post activities such as the craft
shop and bowling center.
If you volunteer, you may
be chosen for Active Duty for Special Work (ADSW) for
several days to several months. If chosen you will receive
active duty pay and
full benefits for the duration of the ADSW. While
performing these duties you
will be earning credit toward retirement.
How am I selected and who determines if I qualify for
the National Guard
Chaplaincy?
You will have to meet
Army qualifications -- physical, educational, and moral.
You will also have to
meet your church’s qualifications by getting an
Ecclesiastical
Endorsement from them. Click here
and your recruiter can tell you
exactly how to pursue becoming qualified.
Do I need to pass a physical examination?
Yes. You will need to
discuss any concerns you have about the physical
examination with your recruiter. The Army will provide this
examination for you,
free of charge.
How do I contact my ecclesiastical endorsing agent?
There are over 240
Department of Defense recognized endorsers. Your recruiter
has a complete list and can tell you how to contact
yours.
I am currently a commissioned officer in the Reserve
or on Active Duty. How do I
become an National Guard Chaplain?
You will have to branch
transfer. The particulars of how to do that will depend
on how much schooling you have had. Please contact your
Chaplain recruiter by
clicking here.
If I become an National
Guard Chaplain Candidate or Chaplain, can I join active
duty later?
Yes. We require most
ordained Chaplains to have two years of post-seminary
experience prior to going on active duty. The National Guard provides
Army
training while you get that experience. Currently about 80
reserve Chaplains
choose to enter active duty every year.
I am an enlisted member on active duty or in the
Reserve. How can I become an
National Guard Chaplain?
If you qualify, you can
submit a DA Form 4187 to request early release to enter
the seminary or Chaplain Corps depending on your
education level. Please contact
your chaplain recruiter by clicking here.
I am a prior service soldier and I would like to
become a chaplain. I don’t know
if I qualify with the RE Code on my DD
Form 214 (Service Document)?
RE Codes are very
confusing. The best way to get good information on your
eligibility is to ask your recruiter for a determination.
Will I have to go to basic training (boot camp)?
No. Chaplains and
Chaplain Candidates do not attend combatant training. They
attend the Chaplain Officer Basic Course (CHOBC) which is
an 11½-week course
taught at
the non-combatant common core skills, Army writing, and
chaplaincy specific
training. The Army will not require nor allow you to bear
arms as part of your
military duties.
Do I have to attend all 11½-weeks of the Chaplain
Officer Basic Course (CHOBC)
at once?
No. It can be taught in
four phases. Each phase must be taken sequentially;
however, the entire course does not have to taken in the
same year:
Common Core -- 3½-week
resident course which teaches non-combatant common core
skills such as map reading, military customs and
courtesies, operations in field
conditions, and combat survival. The Army will not require you
to bear arms.
This phase is not
required of prior commissioned Army officers.
Phase 1 - RC -- Army
writing and correspondence is a 3-week resident or
correspondence phase.
Phase 2 - RC --
Chaplaincy training is a 2½-week resident course of instruction
in Army specific chaplain duties.
Phase 3 - RC --
Chaplaincy training is a second 2½-week resident course of
instruction in Army specific chaplain duties.
I am interested in being an Chaplain and I want to join a National Guard Unit
too. I have to lead my own congregation every Sunday
(Saturday). Do I have to
attend "drill" on Sundays (Saturdays)?
Most, if not all, guard
units will give you that flexibility. You should contact
the unit you plan on joining to find out their
requirements. Usually, chaplains
who lead a church will hold services for the guard unit
on Saturday (Sunday),
lead their own churches on Sunday (Saturday), and then
make up the missed day
sometime prior to the next "drill" weekend. If this
happens, you will only need
to be away from your congregation during your two-week
annual training.