Becoming A Chaplain
If you are considering applying for an appointment as a military chaplain, you are considering one of the most unique spiritual opportunities for ministry available anywhere.
Military chaplains offer a broadly based ministry aimed at meeting the diverse pastoral needs of the pluralistic military community. All chaplains are responsible for supporting both directly and indirectly the Constitutionally mandated free exercise of religion for all members of the Military Services, their family members, and other authorized persons. (Referenced from Department of Defense Directive 1304.19) Every Active Duty, Guard, Reserve or Civil Air Patrol Chaplain is required to receive an ecclesiastical endorsement from his or her own religious organization, no matter which branch of military service is desired. Each chaplain is expected to remain faithful to the tenets of the religious group granting one’s ecclesiastical endorsement. Selection to become a chaplain is competitive and based on the needs of the particular Service Branch to which a person applies.
The basic requirements to become an Active Duty, Reserve, Guard or Civil Air Patrol Chaplain include:
Ecclesiastical endorsement (certifies experience and degree requirements meet the standards of the respective ecclesiastical group)
- Two years religious leadership consistent with clergy in applicant’s tradition (strongly recommended)
- United States citizenship (No dual citizenship)
- Bachelor’s degree (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours)
- A graduate degree to include a minimum of 72 semester hours (or equivalent) from a qualifying (accredited) institution. Not less than 36 hours must be in theological/ministry and related studies, consistent with the respective religious tradition of the applicant. Endorsers are free to exceed the DoD standard per ecclesiastical requirements, but cannot go below the minimal DoD requirements, e.g. many endorsers specifically require the Master of Divinity degree.
Active Duty Chaplains:
- Army: Commissioned prior to age 40 (Age waiver availability may vary from year to year)
- Air Force and Navy: Commissioned and on active duty by age 42 (Some consideration may be made for prior service)
- Pass a military commissioning physical
- Pass a security background investigation
- Ability to work in the DoD directed religious accommodation environment.
For further questions, contact the Service Branch Chaplaincy you are interested in serving with.
Rev. Gary W. Clore
EXCOM at Large
Director of Endorsing Ministries Global Methodist Church
Reverend Dr. James R. “Jim” Carter
The Reverend Dr. James R. “Jim” Carter serves as the Presbyterian & Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel Executive Director and Ecclesiastical Endorser (PRCC). He also serves as the Chaplain Ministries Coordinator for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) which oversees the Civilian and Armed Services Chaplaincy Ministry. The PRCC is made up of seven Reformed Presbyterian denominations. Dr. Carter returned to the PRCC Commission after serving in a local pastorate for six years following his retirement from many years of active service in the Army Chaplaincy reaching the rank of Colonel. He held a number of ministry leadership positions and was deployed twice to combat during his years of service.
Dr. Carter is a native of Monroeville, Alabama. After attending Belhaven College and Reformed Theological Seminary and receiving his ordination as a Presbyterian Minister (PCA), Jim entered the Army Chaplain Corps in 1988. He previously served in the Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant Chaplain Candidate from 1986-1988. Chaplain Carter’s degrees include a Bachelors of Art from Belhaven College, Jackson, Mississippi; a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi and a Doctor of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina. Chaplain Carter’s military education includes the U.S. Army Chaplain Basic Course and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Service Staff School (CAS3), the Command and General Staff College, and the Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Course.
His previous military assignments included: 24th Infantry Division, 3rd Engineer Battalion (Combat), Fort Stewart, Georgia; 2-7 Infantry Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia with a combat tour in Saudi Arabia-Iraq (Operation Desert Shield and Storm); 59th Ordnance Brigade, Sogel, Germany; 409th Base Support Battalion, Grafenwoehr, Germany; 4-5 Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas and 4-1 Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kansas; Area III Installation Chaplain, Camp Humphrey’s, Korea; Brigade Combat Training Religious Support Observer Controller (BCTP), Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; 3rd Regiment and Senior Pastor of the West Point Cadet Chapel, United States Corps of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; Deputy Installation Chaplain and Chief of Religious Support Operations, Fort Bliss, Texas; 4th Infantry Division Chaplain, Fort Hood, Texas and Multi-National Division Baghdad Command Chaplain, (MND-B) Baghdad, Iraq (Operational Iraqi Freedom (OIF 07-09); Senior Pastor of the Protestant Congregation and Deputy Installation Chaplain, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Carter’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
Dr. Carter is married to the former Terri Ganey of Mullins, South Carolina. They have two children (Sarah) married to Michael O’Brien and son Chaplain (CPT) David Carter is married to Emily Wenrick Carter and grandsons James Haddon Carter and Reggie Taylor Carter. He enjoys sports, tennis, traveling, reading and serving his local community. Jim and Terri live in Mullins, South Carolina.
"It is a hardship upon the Regiment I think, to be denied a Chaplain."
SOURCE: George Washington to Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, 4/29/1757, The Writings of George Washington, 2:33