Considering Chaplaincy-Have some questions. . .

[Samuel_Rigby]

I am considering looking into the Army Chaplaincy program. What are your thoughts on Chaplains? How much freedom do Chaplains have in the Army?

I know I've got a long ways to go yet, but this is something God has laid on my heart and would like some information.

Thanks.

 

[Autumnleaf]

I worked for a Navy Chaplain for 6 months when I was a Marine. The Chaplain called my CO after he met me to personally request me. He said I impressed him because I didn't curse.

Chaplain is probably a good career to get into if you feel the call. The one I worked for was part of a directorate where he worked with other Chaplains from many religions to meet the religious needs of the base I was at. They met once a week and I got to sit in. It was fascinating to hear them talk about issues behind closed doors.

 

[Samuel_Rigby]

I worked for a Navy Chaplain for 6 months when I was a Marine. The Chaplain called my CO after he met me to personally request me. He said I impressed him because I didn't curse.

Chaplain is probably a good career to get into if you feel the call. The one I worked for was part of a directorate where he worked with other Chaplains from many religions to meet the religious needs of the base I was at. They met once a week and I got to sit in. It was fascinating to hear them talk about issues behind closed doors.

Thanks for the info. Did you ever hear or get the feeling that Chaplains were not supposed to preach about certain topics? Are Chaplains pressured to dilute their sermons?

 

[inquisitor_11]

Best advice i could give about becoming a padre is to try and get some experience "out in the real world" first. i.e. going straight from school to seminary to being a chaplain is probably going to leave you short of the skills and experience that youd need for the job.

i.e. one of the main roles of padres is counselling for people going through everyday trauma- relationship breakdowns, deaths in the family... counselling and that sort of thing. IMO it would be tough ask of a 20 yr old seminary graduate to counsel someone 10-20 yrs his senior about his recent divorce.

 

[daveleau]

I am considering looking into the Army Chaplaincy program. What are your thoughts on Chaplains? How much freedom do Chaplains have in the Army?

I know I've got a long ways to go yet, but this is something God has laid on my heart and would like some information.

Thanks.

There are two issues you'll run into:
1) You have to preach in a way that will be received by all Protestants, as you will likely be the sole or one of a couple of Protestant chaplains on base. This doesn't mean you have to restrict your topics, but you have to word things in ways that are especially non-confrontational. But, I believe Scripture teaches this anyway.

2) This is the biggie... When giving convocations or praying during ceremonies, you cannot invoke the name of Christ. Prayers have to be generic speaking of the Creator, Lord or Father. Preaching from the pulpit and in counseling proclaiming Christians, you are not restricted. But, when counseling people of other religions, which you will, you have to restrict your speech.

As a chaplain, you are the only real confidential source of counseling that will not get soldiers into trouble for talking to you. Mental health services are a quick way to get into trouble, because they are not confidential, and must make records that are accessible to promotion boards and commanders.

So, there are great opportunities to speak with lots of people in counseling, plenty of opportunities to preach the Gospel, with some restrictions when speaking outside the church.

One thing that the Army will do is pay your tuition for higher education. This includes accredited seminaries. Regency and Liberty Theological Seminary both have online degrees. The USAF is paying for my 90 hour MDiv degree from LTS, although I am a flier and not a chaplain.

In Him,
Dave

 

[Autumnleaf]

Thanks for the info. Did you ever hear or get the feeling that Chaplains were not supposed to preach about certain topics? Are Chaplains pressured to dilute their sermons?

As career military officers on one side of the collar who interact with civilians Chaplains are acutely aware of what they have to do, be very very PC around certain people, if they want to get promoted. An infantry line officer leading a platoon of Marines can get away with more risque actions and opinions than a Chaplain in front of a mixed congregation of men, women, and children.

 

[SailorCop]

I am considering looking into the Army Chaplaincy program. What are your thoughts on Chaplains? How much freedom do Chaplains have in the Army?

I know I've got a long ways to go yet, but this is something God has laid on my heart and would like some information.

Thanks.

Before I became an MA (Military Police), I was a Chaplains Assistant in the Navy, did it for almost three years, and yes they have there freedoms and no they are not told that they have to do certain sermons in a certain way. There are some prereq's though. As far as the NAvy you had to X amount of time in your own Parish/Church, ect... before you could come on to active duty. Don't know if the Army is the same way or not, but I could do some research for you if you like, still have some friends in that line of work. Also there are a few Chaplains were I am stationed, I could pick their brain for some info.

God bless and have a great afternoon.

 

[pinqy]

The basic requirements for Army Chaplains:

To be an Officer in the Army Chaplain Corps, you must obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your faith group. This endorsement should certify that you are:

• A clergy person in your denomination or faith group.
• Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a Chaplain in the Army.
• Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army.
• Possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours.
• Possess a master's degree in divinity or a graduate degree in theological studies, which includes at least 72 hours.

As for other considerations, Chaplains must remember that they are not pastors/ministers of a local community, but military officers with a wide range of duties assisting people of many different faiths. Conversions are not part of the job unless a person specifically asks.

 

[vicarius]

2) This is the biggie... When giving convocations or praying during ceremonies, you cannot invoke the name of Christ. Prayers have to be generic speaking of the Creator, Lord or Father. Preaching from the pulpit and in counseling proclaiming Christians, you are not restricted. But, when counseling people of other religions, which you will, you have to restrict your speech.

I'm assigned to a small Army element on an Air Force Base. We just celebrated the Army Birthday this past Wedenesday. We had an Army chaplain visit our Air Force installation to give the invocation at the Birthday Celebration. He began his prayer something like "All mighty God," and concluded "in the name of your son, whom you sent as a sacrifice for our sin, Jesus Christ." I've heard several Army Chaplains do something similar, while others have prayed some form of "inclusive" prayer.

I'm not sure what the current guidelines are in each service, but it seems from what I've observed over the past few years is that the Army is less restrictive than the Air Force.

 

[vicarius]

For the chaplain recruiting web page google "Army Chaplain Recruiting"

The recruiting page will be your first hit.

The Army Chaplain recruiting web page lists these requirements:

1. You must obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your faith group. This endorsement should certify that you are:
a. A clergy person in your denomination or faith group.
b. Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a Chaplain in the Army.
Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army.

2. Educationally, you must:
a. Possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours.
b. Possess a master's degree in divinity or a graduate degree in theological studies, which includes at least 72 hours.

3. Applicants for active duty MUST be U.S. citizens. Permanent residents can ONLY apply for the Army Reserve.

4. Be able to receive a favorable background check.
Pass a physical exam.


I spoke with an Army Chaplain at our last district assembly. He was assigned to an Army installation in our district and was serving temporary duty as a recruiter looking for Chaplain Candidates. At the time, the Army was short over 100 Chaplains in the rank of Captain.

 

[DistillMyHeart]

I'm assigned to a small Army element on an Air Force Base. We just celebrated the Army Birthday this past Wedenesday. We had an Army chaplain visit our Air Force installation to give the invocation at the Birthday Celebration. He began his prayer something like "All mighty God," and concluded "in the name of your son, whom you sent as a sacrifice for our sin, Jesus Christ." I've heard several Army Chaplains do something similar, while others have prayed some form of "inclusive" prayer.

I'm not sure what the current guidelines are in each service, but it seems from what I've observed over the past few years is that the Army is less restrictive than the Air Force.

I have encountered the exact same thing myself. All the Army Chaplins that have given innvocations be it at a Company Change of Command Ceremony or a Division Review, all tacked on " In Jesus name I pray " at the end.

As to the OP, the Army tends to look for people who are already have Pastoral experince in civillian congregations.

Also to be prepared to deal with lots of different faiths, since all kinds of people join the Army. Be prepared to locate Kosher MREs for your Jewish Soliders, Find a local civillian Catholic Priest/deacon to give commoniuon to some Catholic soldiers in the feild Sunday, Arrange for your Wiccan soliders to conduct a ceremony in a Park, etc, etc.

 

[eqman855]

I've always been a bit curious about chaplains ... do they go through the same basic training as combat arms folks? Are they allowed to defend a position if deployed at the "front"?

eqman855

 

[mont974x4]

I served as a chaplains assistant during the Kosovo Campaign...well, the last few months of the campaign and the first few of the peacekeeping mission. I was assigned to the task force itself and worked directly for the task force chaplain.

From the standpoint of the person responsible for making sure chaplains and other non-combatants made it home safe and sound I want to encourage you to take soldier skills very seriously. There was nothing more dangerous or more frustrating for me than to be providing personal security for someone that had no idea how to do basic soldier skills, like responding to direct or indirect fire. We went on patrols, collected war crimes evidence, and visited troops in the field, some chaplains actually treated it as a sight seeing trip and were more concerned with getting a good pic to show the folks at home than they were about where they placed their feet.

Being a chaplain or other non-combat position does not automaticly keep you safe from mine fields, direct or indirect attack, or from seeing the other horrors of war. I arrived in country shortly after the special ops guys were killed by a landmine and the process following a critical incident is not for the faint of heart.


I certainly don't want to discourage you or make you think I don't think you can handle all that stuff, but it is best that you are aware of it ahead of time.

Currently I believe the ACLJ is working to correct some issues that limit chaplains right to pray in accordance with their faith. I would imagine it really depends on whose in the audience and whether they want to make an issue of it.

 

[MountainLion]

If you have any more questions you can PM me. I am currently serving as a Chaplain in the Air Force Reserve.

 

[mont974x4]

If you have any more questions you can PM me. I am currently serving as a Chaplain in the Air Force Reserve.

hey, you stole my avatar! Must be a Montana thing.

 

[MountainLion]

I have another one in mind, but I have to get a few more posts before I can use the customized one I want.

 

[mont974x4]

ahhh but this one is so...tasty. lol I'm not a bow hunter so I gotta wait a bit.

 

[MountainLion]

ahhh but this one is so...tasty. lol I'm not a bow hunter so I gotta wait a bit.

It might be a bit too hot yet to go hunting for elk this weekend. I'd hate for it to spoil before I got it home.

I think in about two weeks the rut will be on north of Jordan.

I just had a thought, Perhaps we should take this to the Montana thread so we are not hijacking this one.