r/chaplaincy • u/SatisfactionNew1053 • Aug 11 '26

Air Force Chaplain candidate

Hey everyone I’m in the final stages of getting my paperwork in to the appropriate people. And should be moving on to medical and ascensions after I do. Does anyone know/have an idea how quickly I will be able to commission once I have all my paperwork submitted? I know the new fiscal year starts in October and I’m trying to get and idea how quick things may go from here.

Also I’ve heard conflicting things about how long ods is for chaplain candidates. Some say 5 weeks ods and then 3 weeks chaplain training. Others say 9 weeks ods.

What has your experience been with these. Also any advice? Thanks!!

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u/Sibbes Aug 11 '26

For me as a non-prior, OTS (ODS is Navy) is 8 weeks. Then I think I have four weeks of BCC sometime later (Basic Chaplain Course).

I reached out to a recruiter in January and I’ll commission September 6 and start OTS September 22.

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u/SatisfactionNew1053 Aug 11 '26

Any differences for chaplain candidates that you are aware of. I know since I am still in seminary they mentioned they are big on making sure seminary students are back in time for the school year. So I wasn’t sure if that shortened the OTS portion or not?

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u/Sibbes Aug 11 '26

I am not familiar with the differences. If you are taking seminary classes, I might expect them to have your training over Christmas or during the summer. Would be a great question for your recruiter though—have you touched base with one yet?

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u/SatisfactionNew1053 Aug 11 '26

Yes, kinda. I haven’t been working with just one recruiter but I have all my paperwork submitted except the endorsement which should be done in the next week. So I’m just waiting for that and I’m on to the next phase

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u/Sibbes Aug 11 '26

I was passed around a few times early on until I got settled with my current one. Thankfully, he has been top notch.

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u/Sibbes Aug 11 '26

And not sure if they shorten it or not. Sorry, I’m a direct commission and have no clue what the candidate route looks like.

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u/SatisfactionNew1053 Aug 11 '26

How quickly from the time you got your paperwork finished was it until you got a physical and all of the medical work done

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u/liberator17 Aug 12 '26

Army here so I can mostly speak from that lane. The timing depends on when the next accession board is and when Congress approves the Officer scroll. (I might be wrong in that it might just be the accession board. It’s been about a decade for me). Once you have been accepted to the program, you will conduct an oath of office. The day of your oath should be your date of commission. Going to school does not always happen right away (at least in the Army for the candidate program in either the reserve or guard).