What are my options for becoming a Chaplain?

2018-07-30T19:28:57-04:00

I'm an 11B wanting to start my Process to the become a Chaplain. I have 22 months left on my contract and am starting to look at my options. I have a bachelor's and need to get my Masters in Divinity. Any suggestions?

Response by PV2 Robert H. made Jul 30 at 2018 7:32 PM

2018-07-30T19:32:40-04:00

Did you look into re-uping as a 56M (chaplains assistant)? Would give you the time to finish a masters, and still get you into the field you're looking for.

Response by PV2 Robert H. made Jul 30 at 2018 7:34 PM

2018-07-30T19:34:11-04:00

*re-classing

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Jul 30 at 2018 7:46 PM

2018-07-30T19:46:09-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Awesome - I will be praying for you, brother. I am expectant that The Lord will make a place for you in His Ministry and the Holy Spirit will speak into your heart and give you the words and thoughts that you will need. I am too far removed from the Army to say much about the process, etc. But, God knows. When you make it onto your new career path, please let us all know how things are going. Bless You John. As an 11B converting to Chaplin you will have a lot of insight as to what an infantry unit needs. Will you go to OCS and commission based on your degrees? Or, with your degrees is OCS necessary? Or, will you retain your status as an enlisted man?

Response by CH (COL) Geoff Bailey made Jul 30 at 2018 8:18 PM

2018-07-30T20:18:52-04:00

I’d suggest contacting a Chaplain recruiter. We recruit directly to the Chaplain Corps like AMEDD. Or, shoot me a PM and I’ll send you the contact information in your geographic region.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 31 at 2018 6:34 AM

2018-07-31T06:34:06-04:00

Check with admin, and finish out your degree.

Response by CPL Any Jim made Jul 31 at 2018 12:15 PM

2018-07-31T12:15:19-04:00

Best chance to become a chaplin as an e4 with 22 months in service is what route do you wanna take ? Only commisioned offcier transistion can make in army from e4 is ! Helicopter pilot ! For sum reason helicopter pilot is only commisioned officer rank can achieve from pfc rank or spc with out ocs ! So apply to helicopter pilot ' unit command might say i wouldnt wanna be no crazy helicopter pilot to dddangerous ... Pass flight school and have prepared and drop chaplin packet day you accepted as pilot ! Dont inform you command you going to flight school to get accepted as chaplin ... Take step by step hold confidentiatly close to chest ... Make it happen ... Be careful when you tell people you end results of you goals thay quick to step on you dreams before you even take first step towards achieving ... Worse case scenario you end up just becoming a commision officer pilot , change you career status and control you future ' instead of being in dead end mos as a ssspc ! Yah i said spc as an mos ! Have you got that speech hay you a specialist now and you need to start accepting more responaiblites bc you will be a e5 soon ... Who wants to be an e5 so you can dry snitch to command that an e4 wants to be a chaplin and block and derail e4 every which way ? Whatever as a chaplin or flight pilot life changes compared to being e4 that gets denied every which way by an e5 nobody or so forth yada yada ...

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2018 6:13 AM

2018-11-22T06:13:10-05:00

SPC Cooper, the Army has a position called a chaplain candidate for indiviudals such as yourself. The requirements are: an accredited bachelor's, a letter of approval from your endorsing organization (a church administrative body) and a letter of acceptance into an accredited MDiv or similar master's program. The 56X MOS is always a reserve component role in either the Reserves or the Guard. Given the significant need for chaplains, it's possible that you could receive a conditional release of you worked really hard and made the right connections. As said below, start by speaking to a chaplain recruiter. PM me if you need help navigating the process. The call to chaplaincy is a great one but be prepared for a long road. The Lord's blessings to you!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2022 3:56 PM

2022-09-19T15:56:29-04:00

I too was an 11B...just commissioned this month as a candidate! Did you ever end up following through? I'm here to answer any questions you may have.