What unit crest do Chaplain Candidates wear prior to CH-BOLC?

2023-05-04T14:53:43-04:00

Recently, I was at an event that required the dress uniform and was told to wear the Chaplain Corps Regimental Crest. However, in the Chaplain candidate handbook it states that Chaplain Candidates are not authorized to wear the Chaplain Corps Regimental crest (Sections 1-6 and 5-1.a). Do we wear the unit crest of the unit we are assigned to at the time?

Response by COL Randall C. made May 4 at 2023 4:47 PM

2023-05-04T16:47:14-04:00

DA PAM 670-1* has the answers you're looking for ... but you have to connect some guidance together to get it.

Regarding distinctive unit insignia (DUIs) or regimental distinctive insignia (RDIs), "Chaplains will wear their branch insignia in lieu of the DUI or RDI".

That doesn't say "Chaplain Candidates", but elsewhere in the DA PAM, when talking about the pullover sweater, it states, "chaplains and chaplain candidates will wear their branch insignia centered above the nameplate in lieu of the DUI."

So, stitching those together, it appears the intent is clear that, as a Chaplain Candidate, you don't wear any DUIs or RDIs and instead wear your Chaplain Candidate branch in their place.
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* https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30948-PAM_670-1-000-WEB-1.pdf

ARN30948-PAM_670-1-000-WEB-1.pdf