Chaplains do have to be ordained.

[theseed]

Jack was an Army chaplain, and I'm a Navy chaplain, there are certain basic requirements that apply to all branches of the military (Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Marines get their chaplains from the Navy). 1) Education - the minimum is a Masters in Divinity degree. This is obtained by the individuals at their own expense, or through their denomination/faith group. The government does not pay for a chaplain's basic ecclesiastical education. 2) Experience - to be a chaplain you must have served in a church as a pastor for a time predetermined by the denomination/faith group. This can be anywhere from one to three years. 3) Ordination - all military chaplains must be ordained by their denomination/faith group and endorsed for military duty by the same. 4) Physical Fitness - a minimal level of physical fitness is required due to the arduousness of military duty. If you are a Navy chaplain, for instance, you are eligible to serve with any of the "sea services." That is to say, the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard. If you are assigned to a Marine command, you can expect to do some serious physical fitness training!

Once you have been selected to be a chaplain, you are commissioned an officer by Congress.

The most important thing I want you to remember about military chaplains is this: They are there to represent their denomination or faith group. One of the slogans used in the Navy Chaplaincy is "Cooperation Without Compromise." For example, I am a Free Methodist minister. I work in an office where the senior chaplain is a Roman Catholic priest. Another chaplain is a minister in the American Baptist Church. We all work together to provide religious ministry to the Marines of I MEF. If a Marine approaches me and says he wants to "make confession," I know I'm dealing with a Catholic, so I connect him with the priest.

The bottom line is that all chaplains are to provide a "Ministry of Presence." We are to be with the troops. When they need someone to talk to, we're there for them. And let me be quick to add that it is truly a privilege to serve God and our country this way.

With war clouds on the horizon, I ask you to pray for all our chaplains.

Bless God, America!

http://www.freemethodistchurch.org/Sections/Communications/News%20Stories/Roots%20on%20Deck/11-20-02_Roots_on_Deck.htm

 

[TexasCatholic]

Awesome. What a great way to serve both God and country! Very admirable. I had no idea the requirements were so high. I'm even more impressed.

-James

 

[theseed]

Awesome. What a great way to serve both God and country! Very admirable. I had no idea the requirements were so high. I'm even more impressed.

-James

Yes me too

 

[daveleau]

The military will pay for your Seminary tuition if you are already in the military. They just don't have programs that pay for school like they do with med schools and dental schools. I am in the Air Force and am getting a MAR (general master of arts in religion) from Liberty Univ. I can use the hours later to go for my MDiv, if I feel called to do so. I have not touched my GI Bill, yet. Everything is covered under Tuition Assistance through the Military Education Office.

The chaplains here are someone muted about Biblical truth. I have heard two say that they believed X or Y, but would not preach on it because of the constraints put on them.