Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 04:2 (Fall 2000)
Article: A Military Chaplaincy Ministry
Author: Donald W. Holdridge, Sr.

JMAT 4:2 (Fall 00) p. 106

A Military Chaplaincy Ministry

Donald W. Holdridge, Sr.

Associate Professor Of Bible
Baptist Bible College, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Did you ever want to serve God and country at the same time? Have you ever served in the military? Could you thrive ministering in an orderly and disciplined environment? Would you enjoy interacting with service members from all walks of life? Then perhaps the military chaplaincy is for you. You could travel around the world as a full-time chaplain, or stay right where you are and serve in the Reserves or National Guard.

There is a great need for chaplains in all branches of the armed forces at this time. Normally the services would like to have the same percentages of chaplains from denominations as the percentages of soldiers from those denominations. However, since a number of denominations are not filling their quotas for chaplains, there is a vacuum which leaves room for other faith groups to fill. As of this Fiscal Year (FY00), the Air Force and Navy are short 40 chaplains each, and the Army is short 160 chaplains.

Though there is a need in all the branches for chaplains, the bulk of this article will focus on the Army Chaplaincy, since this has been the experience of the author. To locate information about the chaplaincy in other branches of service, go to the following web site: http://www.militarycareers.com/occ/ochapla.htm.

How Can You Become A Chaplain?

Age

Non-Catholics must be commissioned as chaplains before their 40^th birthday. Because of the great shortage of priests, Catholics can be accepted up to age 50. If a non-Catholic has some years of prior service with the military, he could get a waiver to enter after age 40. A chaplain recruiter will be able to determine whether one is eligible for this waiver.

JMAT 4:2 (Fall 00) p. 107

Education

You must have completed a three-year residency of 90 graduate hours of theology, or a Master of Divinity degree from an approved institution. “The school must be listed in the Directory of Postsecondary Institutions, the Association of Theological Schools Bulletin (Part 4), the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Directory, or from a graduate school whose credits are fully accepted by one of the above listed schools” (http://www.goarmy.com/job/chap/qualorda.htm). Baptist Bible Seminary is a fully qualified seminary which has produced active duty and reserve chaplains. Its internship actually counts as part of the three years residency requirement for the M.Div.

Denomination

You must be ordained and obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement by a faith group which is recogniz...