Today I saw a chaplain with a long tab and a combat action badge. Is there a scenario where this is possible?

I was a Chaplain Assistant assigned to 3d SFG and one of our chaplains went through the SFQC while I was there. It's not common for this to happen but it has happened.

Absolutely possible. Many chaplains are prior enlisted or even branch transfers if they meet the qualifications.

When I came in the Army in 98 my battalion chaplain had the long tab and a lots of other things in his uniform. The CAB adjudication has changed so many times from you been in direct contact with the enemy from you been in the same convoy that experienced an IED strike etc So I believe his tab is legit.

It seems strange to see, but I've worked with chaplains before that have been awarded Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, Career Counselor, Ranger, Special Forces, Freefall Parachutist, and even one who had a permanent marksman award ( not sure which ) as a result of his enlisted time on the Army Marksman team.

As an OSUT company commander, we had a chaplain, big guy, with a CIB earned as an enlisted Infantryman in Vier Nam. He also wore aviator wings earned as a warrant officer. He left the service, entered a seminary, then rejoined the army as a US Army Chaplain. We called him "Sky Pilot" and as a "fire & brimstone" Baptist, the snivellers who cried about wanting to see the chaplain......rarely asked for a second interview.

When I was in SF Command we had an SF tabbed chaplain with a CIB and combat patch from Vietnam. He was prior enlisted (18B), got out, we to seminary, and came back in as a chaplain.

If he was prior service it wouldn't really be a shock

Many of us Chaplains were something else before joining the Chaplain Corps. I've known Chaplains who, in another life, were Ranger Regiment, Special Forces, and even Navy Seals. Stranger things have happened.

Yes it is. We have several Chaplains prior service who earned tabs, CABs, and Combat/Expert Infantry Badge. I can name you one I know very well as he is my brother Catholic Priest from Baltimore: CH (LTC) Tyson Wood. SF tab and EIB. Many Chaplains have earned the CAB in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also have a few Chaplains who graduated from Ranger School as Chaplains. I believe we have one or two who went through SF as Chaplains but I am not certain. Patch is the patch for the Army Chaplain Center & School.

Anyone except infantry can recieve a CAB for being near fire, my question is if you don't know that, or what the long tab he's wearing is, just what kinda sparkly uniform do you sport?