Does AR 135-175, "Separation of Officers" supersede my Offer of Appointment to be a Chaplain in the USAR?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:37:53 -0400

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.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 21 at 2021 3:34 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:34:51 -0400

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.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Sep 21 at 2021 6:19 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:19:49 -0400

Is there no JAG office at your duty station or within driving distance?

Having spent many years as an Operations NCO, several years as a GS-0341-11 Administrative Officer, and a few months as a Squadron Adjutant, I think you are putting way too much skull sweat into looking for complicated ways to find convoluted interpretations to a simple paragraph of text.

To try to be clear there is NOTHING in the text you quoted saying you incur a new 8 year obligation. If there is any such obligation, it WILL be spelled out in detail in writing on one of the several paper forms that you will have to sign to accept the appointment.

But my educated opinion isn't binding. Actually the educated opinion of the JAG office won't be binding either, but the JAG office is where you need to go to get clarification that you can be confident about.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2021 9:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 21:07:26 -0400

Thank you both for the response.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Sep 22 at 2021 12:07 AM

SSG Brian G. — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:07:40 -0400

It's in the wording. "You may not resign your reserve status until you have completed a total of 8 years of service." Meaning that you have to serve 8 years. For it to mean that you have to serve 8 years in that MOS, an addition like this would have to be there. " "... until you have completed 8 years a total of 8 years of service as an 56A Chaplain."

Basically what it means is that you can take the 56A. But be aware that in taking it there might be some stipulation in there where you have to serve a certain number of years... not 8 but some number, likely 2-4.

Response by CH (CPT) Jerry McGowin made Sep 26 at 2021 9:58 PM

CH (CPT) Jerry McGowin — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 21:58:19 -0400

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.

Response by CH (CPT) Jerry McGowin made Sep 26 at 2021 9:59 PM

CH (CPT) Jerry McGowin — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 21:59:10 -0400

Focus on preaching the Word, and your Heavenly Father will reward you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2021 7:11 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:11:10 -0400

Here is what I’ve leaned so far. I called the Office of the Chief of Chaplains and was told that signing the Offer of Appointment does indeed carry an 8 year MSO. This is due to the fact that I will have to attend either CHBOLC or the Chaplains Captain Career Course as well as probably attending other Army schools and training events while a chaplain all of which will cost the Army money.

Response by SSG Dale London made Aug 30 at 2022 4:59 PM

SSG Dale London — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:59:46 -0400

It seems to me that this does not apply to you. From what it looks like, you are merely transferring from the Engineer branch to the Chaplains branch. I don't think there would even be a break in service. Have you spoken to PAC?
By the way - I have no doubt you will find chaplaincy the most rewarding experience of your life. I know I did.
God bless you and guide your steps.