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Right now, I am in OSUT at Ft. Benning as an 11x. I am wondering if it is possible (like my D.S. and my P.L. have said) to reclass after BCT?
Background: Joining the military was never a question. It is something I have always felt God has wanted me to do. The question was what was I going to do in the military. I chose the infantry because I wanted to be there when people went through the darkest moments in their life. The real stuff. I wanted to be there with them and help them get out of those dark moments. Early during Basic, the Chaplain came in and gave a brief on Suicide Prevention and Awareness. After the brief about 80+ trainees wanted to speak to the Chaplain. It was in that moment that I knew if I wanted to have the impact I desired, that is where I needed to be. I felt that that is where God is calling me. An MOS that my family suggested I do from the first place but I, being stubborn, didn’t see the full impact a Chaplain can have. So, I spoke to my D.S. and he said, “Give me the first 9 weeks and I’ll make it happen.” Now, I can’t reclass straight into Chaplain as I don’t have a seminary degree, but what I am able to do is resclass to a 56M (Religious Affairs Specialist). This is something that more or less every Cadre at my company is tracking. Mainly because I have the nickname of Chaplain from the other trainees.
Steps:
1) Reclass to Religious Affairs Specialist
2) During my first contract (5 years) get a seminary degree.
3) Submit a Chaplain Packet.
Note: If it is possible, any advice on how to increase the likelihood would be appreciated.
Background: Joining the military was never a question. It is something I have always felt God has wanted me to do. The question was what was I going to do in the military. I chose the infantry because I wanted to be there when people went through the darkest moments in their life. The real stuff. I wanted to be there with them and help them get out of those dark moments. Early during Basic, the Chaplain came in and gave a brief on Suicide Prevention and Awareness. After the brief about 80+ trainees wanted to speak to the Chaplain. It was in that moment that I knew if I wanted to have the impact I desired, that is where I needed to be. I felt that that is where God is calling me. An MOS that my family suggested I do from the first place but I, being stubborn, didn’t see the full impact a Chaplain can have. So, I spoke to my D.S. and he said, “Give me the first 9 weeks and I’ll make it happen.” Now, I can’t reclass straight into Chaplain as I don’t have a seminary degree, but what I am able to do is resclass to a 56M (Religious Affairs Specialist). This is something that more or less every Cadre at my company is tracking. Mainly because I have the nickname of Chaplain from the other trainees.
Steps:
1) Reclass to Religious Affairs Specialist
2) During my first contract (5 years) get a seminary degree.
3) Submit a Chaplain Packet.
Note: If it is possible, any advice on how to increase the likelihood would be appreciated.
Reclass
Infantry OSUT (11B)
56M: Chaplain Assistant
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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I don't think your Drill Sergeants really have any idea what they are talking about. You joined the Army to become an Infantryman, signed a contract to be one, and you're in the middle of that right now. You can't just randomly switch to some other, much smaller, MOS. Imagine if everyone did that? It would be a logistical mess. I'm going to assume your only option at this point is to finish your 11X training, become an 11B or 11C, go on to your duty station, still work towards your degree, and when your reenlistment window opens up you can try and reclass to 56M if they have any open slots. God may be calling you to it, but the Army owns you now, not God. You're going to be an Infantryman for the time being.
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No. You are not MOS qualified, yet. Therefore you cannot voluntarily switch out. What can happen for you to switch MOSs are thus: Going thru 11B school, you flunk out (hard to do for Infantry) of AIT and get reclassed Needs of the Army. Go thru 11B school and get injured enough thru no fault of your own (very big key there), to where you can't physically be an Infantryman but can still do Soldier stuff and be reclassed Needs of the Army. The only other route I can think of is that you graduate AIT, do your time as an Infantryman, then reclass to Chaplains Assistant come reenlistment time. This, would be the better route because you would have first hand knowledge and experience to better help/assist those that need help/assistance.
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No, you cannot. Your DS is 100% incorrect in this regard. You probably won't be able to reclass to 56M later on either, and you don't need to. You need to review the requirements to be a Chaplain and being a 56M is not one of them. I've met lots of Chaplains who were former 11B, and have never yet met one who was a former 56M.
If you want to be a good Chaplain you'll have a lot more impact counseling these young, distraught combat arms Soldiers when you've gone through the same hardships they have as an 11B. It's only when you walk in someone else's boots that you can really understand their pain. The best Chaplains I've worked with were all former NCOs and served in combat arms. If you really believe you have a higher calling to be a Chaplain, you'll want to be the best Chaplain you can be.
The requirements for being a Chaplain are a Bachelor degree, a Master degree in Theology or Religious studies, and formal sponsorship by a denomination or religion (depending on your religion). Being a 56M will not get you any closer to those, it won't make it easier, and it won't make you any more likely to be selected or sponsored. Once you get to your unit immediately start working on your degree and get with your Chaplain to talk about sponsorship, scholarships, and commissioning process.
If you want to be a good Chaplain you'll have a lot more impact counseling these young, distraught combat arms Soldiers when you've gone through the same hardships they have as an 11B. It's only when you walk in someone else's boots that you can really understand their pain. The best Chaplains I've worked with were all former NCOs and served in combat arms. If you really believe you have a higher calling to be a Chaplain, you'll want to be the best Chaplain you can be.
The requirements for being a Chaplain are a Bachelor degree, a Master degree in Theology or Religious studies, and formal sponsorship by a denomination or religion (depending on your religion). Being a 56M will not get you any closer to those, it won't make it easier, and it won't make you any more likely to be selected or sponsored. Once you get to your unit immediately start working on your degree and get with your Chaplain to talk about sponsorship, scholarships, and commissioning process.
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“I chose the infantry because I wanted to be there when people went through the darkest moments in their life. The real stuff. I wanted to be there with them and help them get out of those dark moments. Early during Basic, the Chaplain came in and gave a brief on Suicide Prevention and Awareness. After the brief about 80+ trainees wanted to speak to the Chaplain”.
Are you saying that early during basic is the ‘darkest moments’...the ‘real stuff’?
Oh and also, while I’m not opposed to dreaming big, you should know Drill Sergeants are like recruiters. They’re not above lying to soldiers from time to time. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t count on a reclass after BCT if I were you.
Best of luck.
Are you saying that early during basic is the ‘darkest moments’...the ‘real stuff’?
Oh and also, while I’m not opposed to dreaming big, you should know Drill Sergeants are like recruiters. They’re not above lying to soldiers from time to time. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t count on a reclass after BCT if I were you.
Best of luck.
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You probably can't reclass.
Before WWII my grandfather had completed seminary and all but took his vows to become a Catholic Priest. He changed his mind and joined the Army.
He fought in the Pacific like any other grunt/engineers and when happened upon dead and dying soldiers he would give them their last rights because Chaplains in those situations are not abundant enough.
God doesn't require you have the MOS.
Before WWII my grandfather had completed seminary and all but took his vows to become a Catholic Priest. He changed his mind and joined the Army.
He fought in the Pacific like any other grunt/engineers and when happened upon dead and dying soldiers he would give them their last rights because Chaplains in those situations are not abundant enough.
God doesn't require you have the MOS.
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FYI: I am perfectly fine continuing as an Infantryman. If trying to get changed this early one doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. I’ll do the time, then reclass then. It really doesn’t bother me.
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SSG Laurie Mullen
There's nothing wrong with having a combat MOS and experience under you belt before changing over to the Chaplain Corps. Your experiences may benefit you when talking to combat arms soldiers because you've been there, done that, lived the life. You'll have a better understanding of what they do and the stresses that they feel. Good luck.
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I want you to think about this question and ask yourself the following questions:
1) What MOS is listed on your contract?
2) How long is your contract?
3) why would the Army allow you to reclass to a different MOS before you are IET complete?
The answer is hell no you can’t reclass before AIT. You must wait until your re-enlistment window which is a few years away
1) What MOS is listed on your contract?
2) How long is your contract?
3) why would the Army allow you to reclass to a different MOS before you are IET complete?
The answer is hell no you can’t reclass before AIT. You must wait until your re-enlistment window which is a few years away
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Not trying to be mean, not trying to dis anyone, but your recruiters and DS have no clue. They will tell you anything you want to hear to get you through training and on to your next unit. It's dirty, yes, but their job is to graduate as many capable trigger pullers as possible, not to coddle the whims of every disillusioned COD player who finds out the army isn't like the video games. Not being mean to you, I think your goals are admirable, but you're being fed a line of bull. Your window for Reenlistment opens in about 3 years, and at that point, you can change MOS.
As a servant of God, turn over your situation to Him, and serve Him to the best of your ability in your current situation. When the pressure comes off after OSUT, don't let your faith go with it. Take advantage of tuition assistance, but make sure the school knows you'll have some crazy schedules (gone to the field for a month at a time, at least 4 times a year), and get your degree. Go ahead and drop that Chaplain packet as soon as you have your degree.
As a servant of God, turn over your situation to Him, and serve Him to the best of your ability in your current situation. When the pressure comes off after OSUT, don't let your faith go with it. Take advantage of tuition assistance, but make sure the school knows you'll have some crazy schedules (gone to the field for a month at a time, at least 4 times a year), and get your degree. Go ahead and drop that Chaplain packet as soon as you have your degree.
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You are not able to reclass before you go to AIT - you're going to finish training as infantry. You probably should have thought about this before you chose your MOS. Once you get to your first duty station, go find your unit's career counselor and find out when you can reclass.
From HRC: AR 614-200 (Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management) and AR 601-280 (Army Retention Program) provide reenlistment/reclassification authorities a tool to manage reenlistments, extensions and reclassifications of enlisted Soldiers.
Check out the ARs. But um yeah you're not reclassing before you're out of IET.
From HRC: AR 614-200 (Enlisted Assignments and Utilization Management) and AR 601-280 (Army Retention Program) provide reenlistment/reclassification authorities a tool to manage reenlistments, extensions and reclassifications of enlisted Soldiers.
Check out the ARs. But um yeah you're not reclassing before you're out of IET.
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