FAQ: Becoming a Chaplain

What are the education requirements to be an Army chaplain?
You must have completed your baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with 120 semester hours and completed a Master of Divinity or the equivalent degree (72-90 graduate semester hours). If you have the baccalaureate degree but not the M.Div. or equivalent, you may qualify for the chaplain candidate program, while you work towards the M. Div.

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.

How do I contact my ecclesiastical endorsing agent?
There are over 240 Department of Defense recognized endorsers. We have a complete list and can tell you how to contact yours.

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.

If I am currently a commissioned officer in the Reserve or on Active Duty, how do I become a 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.

If I become a National Guard Chaplain Candidate or Chaplain, can I join active duty later?
Yes. The Army and your Endorser 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. A chaplain has the option of continuing service in the National Guard for twenty or more years. Or, if you find yourself drawn to a deeper relationship with the military community,you may request transfer to the active Army, where you also may retire after twenty or more years of service. However, many National Guard chaplains have served just one tour of active duty to broaden their experience and then returned to their local communities to continue serving both their faith and the National Guard.

I am an enlisted member on active duty or in the Reserve or in the Guard. How can I become a 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 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 Fort Jackson, South Carolina. It will provide you an introduction to the non-combatant common core skills, Army writing, and chaplaincy specific training. The Army will not require nor allow you to be at 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 a 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.