How Are Buddhist Chaplains Trained?

BLUF: Buddhist chaplains serving in the military are trained the same way as all other chaplains.

It is up to individual denominations to train and endorse their clergy for military service. The denomination must meet the qualifications established by the DoD to become an endorsing agency, and the chaplains must meet the educational and experience qualifications established by the DoD. DoDI 1304.28 provides the guidance on the qualifications for both the endorsing agencies and for the chaplains.

Currently, I know of at least one Buddhist organization that endorses chaplains. Here is a link: http://buddhistmilitarysangha.blogspot.kr/2008/08/requirements-to-become-buddhist.html

The DoD does not provide chaplains their denominational training. They have to do this on their own. If they are prior-service, they may use their GI bill for their education. If SMs wish to get theological training and their military branch allows them to use their branch's version of tuition assistance to get qualifying education, they may. But it's still up to the individual. The branches do not select potential chaplains and then educate them. Trust me...I had to put my own time and money into my education.

Once chaplains are selected for military service, each branch does have its own variation of a basic chaplain course. This course is not theological training...it's merely a course to teach the newly-minted chaplains how to function in the pluralistic environment that is the military. All chaplains, regardless of denominational affiliation, attend the same course.