Serving as a Guard chaplain is an intense yet profoundly rewarding experience. You will care for the spiritual well-being of Soldiers regardless of their religious backgrounds, ministering to their needs and helping them meet challenges in areas like religion, morals, and morale.

Chaplains are non-combatants and do not carry a weapon. As a Guard chaplain, you’ll lead a Unit Ministry Team (UMT), which consists of you and a trained Religious Affairs Specialist (an enlisted Soldier trained to support chaplains during their missions and everyday activities).

If you’re already an ordained minister, you can earn your commission within weeks and begin your ministry to Guard Soldiers as soon as you complete the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CH-BOLC). If you join prior to your ordination, you’ll enter as a chaplain candidate.

Guard chaplains receive excellent pay as well as a number of additional incentives.

CHAPLAIN DUTIES

• Overseeing religious ministries, including workshops, counseling, religious education, and special events
• Officiating at worship services, funerals, memorials, and other military functions
• Providing religious ministry to foreign military personnel and civilians

CHAPLAIN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree (not less than 120 semester hours)
• Possess an accredited Master’s degree of not less than 72 semester hours (36 semester hours must be in Theology)
• Obtain a federally-recognized ecclesiastical endorsement from your denomination or faith group.
  a. The chaplain is an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body.
  b. The denomination approves of the chaplain serving as a military chaplain.
  c. Are qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally.
  d. Are sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel and their family members.
• Are less than 47 years of age.*
• Be mentally and physically fit
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Be able to obtain a Secret security clearance

^{*Age waivers for applicants at or above the maximum age are considered on a case-by-case basis.}

What is an ecclesiastical endorsement?
Each denomination or endorsing body that is recognized by the Department of Defense provides endorsement for chaplains. This endorsement (also referred to as “ecclesiastical approval”) is one of the most important items for any chaplain or chaplain candidate to secure before you can be considered for service in the chaplaincy.

For chaplains
the ecclesiastical endorsement states that:

• You are an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body
• You have completed a certain number of years of ministry experience
• The denomination approves of your serving as a military chaplain

For chaplain candidates
the ecclesiastical approval is simply a certification** that:

• You are pursuing the fulfillment of the requirements for chaplaincy
• You are recognized as a member in good standing of the denomination or body

Without approval, you will not be commissioned or appointed to the chaplain candidate program.

^{**Form DD 2088 is for ecclesiastical endorsement.}

Requirements vary, but most religious denominations will require that you:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree (not less than 120 semester hours)
• Are a full-time student working toward a graduate degree in Theology consisting of 72 semester hours or more
• Obtain a federally recognized ecclesiastical endorsement from your denomination or faith group certify that:
  a. The chaplain is an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body.
  b. The denomination approves of the chaplain serving as a military chaplain.
  c. Are qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally.
  d. Are sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel and their family members.
• Are less than 37 years of age*
• Meet the prescribed medical and moral standards for appointment as a commissioned officer
• Must be a U.S. citizen only
• Be able to obtain a secret security clearance

^{*Age waivers for applicants at or above the maximum age are considered on a case-by-case basis.}

Please check with your specific denomination’s endorsing body for details.

After meeting with your endorser and completing all the denominational requirements for ecclesiastical approval, the endorser will submit the approval to the Chief of Chaplains’ office. Your recruiter will not submit your packet for the chaplain candidate appointment board without your ecclesiastical approval being on the record.

It is also recommended that you request a certified copy for your personal records. Your chaplain recruiter may also request that a copy be submitted directly to them.

TRAINING FOR CHAPLAINS AND CHAPLAIN CANDIDATES

When you join the Guard as a chaplain, you’ll be a commissioned officer. If you join prior to your ordination, you will enter as a chaplain candidate. In either case, you’ll attend the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CH-BOLC), where you’ll learn fundamental military tasks and how to perform religious duties in a military environment. The three-month course can be completed in one block or in several phases over a 24-month period.

The CH-BOLC consists of three segments:

Chaplain Initial Military Training
A four-week resident course focused on core noncombatant skills such as map reading, military customs and courtesies, operations in field conditions, and combat survival.

Phase I
A two-week course on Army writing and correspondence.

Phases II and III
Two three-week courses on Army-specific chaplain duties and applying civilian skills to the National Guard environment.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES

• Up to $80,000 Chaplain Loan Repayment Program (CLRP) to help pay off education loans
• Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) and $350 MGIB-SR Kicker
• Federal Tuition Assistance and Credentialing Assistance (Up to $4,000/year)
• Free Academic Testing and Test Prep (SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, PRAXIS, OASC and CPST)
• College Credit Equivalency Exams (CLEP and DSST)
• Education Counseling Support (1-866-ARNGEDU or via email
  
• Medical and dental care for you and your family (TRICARE Reserve Select)
• Up to $400,000 in low-cost life insurance
• Discounted and tax-free grocery and shopping privileges at post exchanges and commissaries
• Free military air flights based on space availability
• Access to recreational facilities on military installations
• Earn military retirement benefits

SEMINARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Higher education takes you a step closer to your higher calling. The National Guard understands this, so we have programs that make college, seminary or divinity school affordable. Check with your officer recruiter or state education services officer (ESO) for current assistance programs.

In addition, the following schools or seminaries currently offer scholarships:

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
$4,500 in tuition assistance
15 tuition scholarships at $4,500
Phone: 800-435-8805

Regent University School of Divinity
$4,500 in tuition assistance
15 partial scholarships
Phone: 800-373-5504

Southwestern Christian University
Loan repayment up to $20,000
$4,500 in tuition assistance
20 scholarships up to $70 additional per credit hour
Phone: 888-418-9272

Oral Roberts University
Loan repayment up to $2,500
$4,500 in tuition assistance
$250 per credit hour
10 tuition scholarships at $2,500
Phone: 918-495-6510

United Theological Seminary
15 scholarships at $3,600 each
Phone: 937-529-2201

Winebrenner Theological Seminary
25 scholarships at $4,500 each
Phone: 800-992-4987

Liberty University
Phone: 434-582-2000

Oklahoma Christian University
Phone: 800-877-5010

 

^{GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.}