Posted on Jun 27, 2024
Do I need to go to Chaplain Direct Commission course if I'm not a Direct Commission?
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I'm being told by my Chaplain command that I need to go to Chaplain Direct Commission course even if I'm not a Direct Commission officer. I commissioned from ROTC as a 17X and shortly after transferred to 56X. I'm trying to get school scheduled, but I'm being told I have to go this Direct Commission Course even though I'm not a DC officer.
Does anyone have guidance on this?
Does anyone have guidance on this?
Posted in these groups: 
56X: Chaplain CandidateChaplain Officer Basic Leader Course (CHBOLC)
56A: Command and Unit Chaplain
56X: Chaplain CandidateChaplain Officer Basic Leader Course (CHBOLC) 56A: Command and Unit Chaplain
Posted 3 mo ago
Responses: 6
Chaplains are Direct Commission only. There is no other way (that I am aware of) to commission as a Chaplain.
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SGM (Join to see)
2LT (Join to see) - Technically, you were not a "direct commission" as you had a commissioning source, ROTC in this case.
Direct commission is a method to commission in lieu of a commissioning source like academy, ROTC, OCS. It is primarily used for the special branches (JAG, AMEDD, CH) and very infrequently in the Guard and Reserve for basic branch commissioning.
Direct commission is a method to commission in lieu of a commissioning source like academy, ROTC, OCS. It is primarily used for the special branches (JAG, AMEDD, CH) and very infrequently in the Guard and Reserve for basic branch commissioning.
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COL Randall C.
MSG (Join to see), I think you might be confusing "commissioning" and "appointment" with your statement. ALL individuals that want to become a Chaplain have to apply for an appointment to the Chaplain Corps, regardless if they are commissioned already or not.
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* AR 165-1 (Army Chaplain Corp Activities) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32960-AR_165-1-000-WEB-1.pdf
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* AR 165-1 (Army Chaplain Corp Activities) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32960-AR_165-1-000-WEB-1.pdf
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MSG (Join to see)
COL Randall C. - It's the little things, like proper verbiage, that can be the difference between life and death.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Cross-service observation here, but since he's already commissioned, he's not trying to commission as a chaplain, but convert his commission. A small... but very significant difference. Direct Commission is an accession issue, not a training one.
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2LT (Join to see), it might be easier if you think of the Chaplains Direct Commissioning Course as the first phase of CHBOLC, because that's exactly how TRADOC lays it out*. The CHBOLC POI from TRADOC (the CHBOLC Smartbook*), shows that the DCC is listed as one of the four phases in CHBOLC (in the Smartbook, the DCC is referred to as "CHBOLC A - Initial Military Training").
If you look at the 64 lessons for IMT (starts on page 48), you'll see a lot of "basic training" you would expect (land navigation, D&C, etc.) but it also integrates the basic "welcome to being a Chaplain in the Army" stuff such as 'Introduction to Worship in the Military Context', 'Lawful Authority of the Chaplaincy', 'Conduct Religious Service in Unified Land Operations', etc.
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* TRADOC CHBOLC - https://usairl.tradoc.army.mil/courses/chbolc/
* CHBOLC Smartbook - https://usarlatraining.army.mil/documents/70971/0/CHBOLC+Smartbook+AUG18.pdf/6fd8aa02-35b2-4d10-bc93-4bb0ece518eb#page=47&zoom=100,0,0
If you look at the 64 lessons for IMT (starts on page 48), you'll see a lot of "basic training" you would expect (land navigation, D&C, etc.) but it also integrates the basic "welcome to being a Chaplain in the Army" stuff such as 'Introduction to Worship in the Military Context', 'Lawful Authority of the Chaplaincy', 'Conduct Religious Service in Unified Land Operations', etc.
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* TRADOC CHBOLC - https://usairl.tradoc.army.mil/courses/chbolc/
* CHBOLC Smartbook - https://usarlatraining.army.mil/documents/70971/0/CHBOLC+Smartbook+AUG18.pdf/6fd8aa02-35b2-4d10-bc93-4bb0ece518eb#page=47&zoom=100,0,0
CHBOLC - US Army Institute for Religious Leadership
ATRRS Number: 5-16-C20-56A Enrollment: • Enrollments are controlled by Human Resources Command (HRC) Course length: 8 weeks (multiple phases) Location: Chaplain School, Fort Jackson Frequency: Approximately 3 times per year Incoming Students: CHBOLC Students coming to Fort Jackson need to review the Welcome Guide below prior to arrival. If you are enrolled and within 15 … Continue reading "CHBOLC"
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Yes, unfortunately.
The DC course is a non-waiverable requirement to get to Chaplain BOLC, and there is some Chaplain branch specific coursework in the DCC.
It is the only way to branch Chaplain, even if you are already commissioned in any basic branch.
Every year we have one or more 56Xs that already have a basic branch commission from a commissioning source such as ROTC, OCS, etc.
The DC course is a non-waiverable requirement to get to Chaplain BOLC, and there is some Chaplain branch specific coursework in the DCC.
It is the only way to branch Chaplain, even if you are already commissioned in any basic branch.
Every year we have one or more 56Xs that already have a basic branch commission from a commissioning source such as ROTC, OCS, etc.
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