Posted on Sep 21, 2021
Does AR 135-175, "Separation of Officers" supersede my Offer of Appointment to be a Chaplain in the USAR?
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I have served for over eight years as an Engineer officer in the USAR. This should make me eligible for voluntary separation if I choose to resign my commission. I have also received an offer to be appointed as a 56A Chaplain in the USAR. My official Appointment Offer reads, "You may not resign your reserve status until you have completed a total of 8 years of service."
I do not know how to interpret this. First, I have already served over 8 years, but I would guess that since I would be accepting a new appointment offer it would require an additional 8 years of service. Second, this could mean that I could not enter the Regular Army or the National Guard prior to 8 years of service. Third, AR 135-175, "Separation of Officers," Chapter 6, Section 3, "Unqualified Resignations," Paragraph 6-10 states that one of the conditions under which an obligation officer may resign his or her commission is if that officer is a Chaplain. My question then is, if I accept this Appointment Offer to become a Chaplain and incur an 8 year USAR obligation, does AR 135-175 overrule the 8 year requirement for resignation based on the fact that I would be a chaplain? If anyone knows what regulation to consult please let me know.
I do not know how to interpret this. First, I have already served over 8 years, but I would guess that since I would be accepting a new appointment offer it would require an additional 8 years of service. Second, this could mean that I could not enter the Regular Army or the National Guard prior to 8 years of service. Third, AR 135-175, "Separation of Officers," Chapter 6, Section 3, "Unqualified Resignations," Paragraph 6-10 states that one of the conditions under which an obligation officer may resign his or her commission is if that officer is a Chaplain. My question then is, if I accept this Appointment Offer to become a Chaplain and incur an 8 year USAR obligation, does AR 135-175 overrule the 8 year requirement for resignation based on the fact that I would be a chaplain? If anyone knows what regulation to consult please let me know.
Posted in these groups: Contract Specialist
Chaplain
56A: Command and Unit Chaplain
Career Counselor
Career Advice
Chaplain 56A: Command and Unit Chaplain Career Counselor Career Advice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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I believe you are reading more into it than you need to read. The orders sound like the generic blurb for what is often a direct commission Officer with no service time on MSO. I don't know of any assignment that will get you another 8 years, although the completion of some schools comes with a minimum service time.
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You may be right. I’ve given it some thought and I don’t expect to have an additional 8 year MSO because I haven’t received anything that would add to my MSO. Both you and the MSG make good points here.
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Focus on preaching the Word, and your Heavenly Father will reward you.
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I was a USCG yeoman for seven years, left, GI bill, entered the Army as a Chaplain. The Army never knows how to deal with Chaplains, I had a date to enter Active duty as a Chaplain, and in the 3 months leading up to that date , i had 4 PCS orders and not countermanded the others. After trying to talk the the Chief of Chaplains office, i just went with the last set of orders. You should have seen the Check in Clerk at Fort Sill, OK when i handed him my four sets of orders. At one point i had two CWOs , one e7 and two civilians trying to figure everything out.
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