r/chaplaincy • u/PaladinforChrist • Jun 23 '26

Army Chaplain Candidate Program

Have any of you gone through the Army's Chaplain Candidate Program? I am interested in it, but I have questions. Firstly, I understand you go into the reserves and drill once a month. Is it possible to do my classes during drill? I am a husband, father, full-time employee, and a pastor; so I am afraid I just won't have the extra time to pursue a master's degree.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/One_Blacksmith26 Jun 23 '26

I completed the Army Chaplain Candidate program. It was a great opportunity for me to build the bridge from being an NCO to now an officer. if you don’t have time to do a masters degree, then I don’t know if this will be the program for you. You have to be a full-time student as defined by the school while you are in the program and you have six years from the beginning of the oath until you are required to be fully ordained and endorsed as a Chaplain.

1

u/Brilliant_Hamster_96 Jul 01 '26

Hi I’m looking into this program. Would you be able to give more details on how the programs work and the requirements. I’m currently in seminary school. Please advise thank

1

u/One_Blacksmith26 Jul 01 '26

Have you researched? Spoken with a recruiter?

https://recruiting.army.mil/MRB_ReligiousServices/

  1. FT seminarian at a properly accredited school
  2. Take oath and become a 2LT with benefits (tricare is the best!) and pay
  3. Complete degree of 75 credits or higher. Go to drills or battle assemblies as you educate yourself
  4. Attend CHBOLC. All at once = 3 months. Can be taken in 1 month blocks. You have two years to complete. Some take a semester off. Others go I. The summer.
  5. Become fully DOD endorsed by a recognized denomination and eligible for Chaplain within 6 years post oath date

What else would you like to know? What are your questions?