OK everyone, this is the second post in my Chaplain Candidate series. In this post I am going to explain the “process” that I have experienced thus far in my journey at becoming an Army Chaplain. I started the process around August of 2009, not with a recruiter but with God and my Wife. My advice, for someone looking at the Chaplain Candidate Program or Army Chaplaincy, would be to start with the heart. Seek the desires of your heart to make sure this is something you feel God effectually calling you to. DO NOT SEEK ARMY CHAPLAINCY IF: its about money, family dream or to impress. The Call of a minister is one of servanthood from God to reach a people back to Himself. Seek God, talk with your family and take it slow DO NOT RUSH into this decision.
Around October of 2009, I decided to contact my local recruiter and was put on hold for a long time…. like most people seeking information about Army Chaplaincy or the Candidate Program, I could not find a lot of info. Unless you live in a city that has a Chaplain specific recruiter it will be difficult to get the process going. I emailed the GO ARMY website and was contacted in a couple of days from my Chaplain recruiter who is based in Illinois.
From October thru the first part of December my recruiter and I sent a lot of information (medical records, faith group endorsement, essay on why army chaplaincy, background checks) back an forth through email, fax and snail mail. My recruiter kept encouraging me through this process by saying, “the paper work is the hard part after that its all down hill.” January 2010 rolled around and I was getting antsy about the waiting… it feels like forever to get rolling toward towards the goal of Candidacy. February came and I was scheduled for MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) here in Louisville. If you are gearing up for MEPS my advice would be to get below your max weight! DO NOT DEPEND on the tape test. Since I am prior service there was a different weight max than non-prior service. ASK YOUR RECRUITER for height/weight info, and make WEIGHT not TAPE. I went to MEPS and was over-weight, the nurse taped me and I came up short by 2 inches, thus I had to go back home to exercise and diet for one month and try it again. I drastically changed my lifestyle and cut my calories in half and started a cardio plan mixed with P90X and lost 13 pounds in a month and passed my second trip to MEPS!
Once you pass MEPS its all downhill… have you heard the term “hurry up and wait”, well that is where I am at the moment. My Chaplain Candidate packet is set to go before the candidate board in May (11-12). Once May 11-12 rolls around I will post another article about the next steps in my sojourn. Leave a comment if this has helped or if you have any questions. I will try and answer or get you in touch with someone who knows more!
I am ready to wait with you as long as we need to. I know that God has a plan for you and our family. I am blessed to be a part of it. I love you.
Thank you for sharing your journey. Like you said, it is difficult to find information as this process begins. This will help others as they seek to answer the call. God bless you in your calling. You may or may not know about http://www.armychaplaincy.com, it has a lot of good information on it for Chaplains / Candidates.
Glad to read your post. Keep the faith brother, after the board it may take 30 days or so to get your Oath, once you do swear in and you’re commissioned. I am in the CC program, an looking forward to CHBOLC this summer. Keep the faith, God’s plans always prevail.
Always great to read about others on the same path! I followed almost exactly your steps except that I needed a medical waiver related to asthma and I was able to make tape the first time. My packet was approved by the March board so I’m waiting for the Oath of Office paperwork to come. My husband and I are excited about the future, for sure. God works in amazing ways