Posted on May 27, 2014
What is the best route to take to become a chaplain?
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Army ROTC
Chaplain
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In general this Ch gave you what he thought was good advice based on his experience. I would disagree though. ROTC will give you valuable training that the Chaplain candidate program CCP probably won't. Chaplain's are also special staff officer's a role in which we are often poorly trained, and execute poorly. ROTC can help with this. You might also consider branching something else while working on your Masters degree. You will not receive the deployment protection, but get lots of valuable military experience.
Finally ROTC and OCS are way easier and more reliable commissioning routes than the Army Chaplain direct commission. I was ROTC could not contact due to vision issue, went to OCS, commissioned as a Chemical officer served as a platoon leader, recommissioned as a Chaplain candidate, and as a Chaplain.
Finally ROTC and OCS are way easier and more reliable commissioning routes than the Army Chaplain direct commission. I was ROTC could not contact due to vision issue, went to OCS, commissioned as a Chemical officer served as a platoon leader, recommissioned as a Chaplain candidate, and as a Chaplain.
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CH (CPT) (Join to see)
You couldn’t contract because if vision, how were you able to go to OCS? I know someone with a similar issue.
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CH (MAJ) (Join to see)
ROTC required a Department of Defense Medical Board and I failed a non Army vision section that I was still unable to waiver. OCS only required my basic training physical
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PFC Cordova, if you haven't already seen this site, you'll probably find this information helpful; also, if you have any questions the Chaplain Recruiting Team number is Toll Free: [login to see] . You can navigate around and find more info at the United States Army Chaplain Candidate website: http://www.goarmy.com/chaplain/candidate-program/candidate-scholarship-program.html
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MSG (Join to see)
I'm curious as to why he thinks you are wasting your time myself. But as a recruiter if you told me you were thinking about being a Chaplin I would direct you to their recruiting service. There is more than one avenue of approach and they will know the ins and outs if each choice. No time is ever wasted as long as you are learning something!
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CH (CPT) (Join to see)
I see this in one of two ways:
1. It is a waste of time, because you likely won't get any useful chaplaincy-related training out of it. At best you'll get a little taste (such as the CHIP program listed below) without having the ability to properly contextualize what that taste means and why or how you can utilize it. So, in that sense, it is kind of a waste of time.
THAT SAID:
2. It is not a waste of time if you seize the opportunity to learn about how your fellow future officers and enlisted work. But the impetus is on you, and with prior-enlisted time, you should have a reasonable idea how the Army works already.
Basically, it really depends on what aspects you see as wasteful. Is taking longer and not actually getting any legitimate training in the field you want to go into more wasteful of your time? Or is getting experience with other officers and enlisted more wasteful? Since you already have enlisted time, the second is probably more wasteful, and so I would have to agree with your chaplain. That's not to discourage you, just to say, you may want to think deeply on how each option actually benefits your future and which will simply have you spinning your wheels before committing.
1. It is a waste of time, because you likely won't get any useful chaplaincy-related training out of it. At best you'll get a little taste (such as the CHIP program listed below) without having the ability to properly contextualize what that taste means and why or how you can utilize it. So, in that sense, it is kind of a waste of time.
THAT SAID:
2. It is not a waste of time if you seize the opportunity to learn about how your fellow future officers and enlisted work. But the impetus is on you, and with prior-enlisted time, you should have a reasonable idea how the Army works already.
Basically, it really depends on what aspects you see as wasteful. Is taking longer and not actually getting any legitimate training in the field you want to go into more wasteful of your time? Or is getting experience with other officers and enlisted more wasteful? Since you already have enlisted time, the second is probably more wasteful, and so I would have to agree with your chaplain. That's not to discourage you, just to say, you may want to think deeply on how each option actually benefits your future and which will simply have you spinning your wheels before committing.
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CH (CPT) (Join to see)
Also, come the end of your second year in an M-Div or MA-Theology program, you'll be very strongly encouraged to do a unit of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), which will take up your entire summer, or 24 straight weekends on the extended program. clearly that internship and CPE can't coexist, and in the long run, CPE is a better use of your time.
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You should be able to ADSO (active duty service obligation) to be able to attend seminary before commissioning. It is a three year extra time of active duty, but it doesn't extend your service years. it just means that you do 7 years active and 1 year reserve.
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