As an Army Chaplain, you and your family become members of the Army Strong family. As a part of the Army Strong family, you and your family earn the right to countless lifestyle benefits and privileges.
Lifestyle Benefits
- Exceptional pay and allowances
- 30 days vacation earned annually
- Up to 10 days administrative leave annually
- Housing allowance or free on-post housing
- Reimbursement of all moving costs plus dislocation allowance
- Comprehensive health care coverage for the entire family
- Excellent retirement plans
- Up to $400,000 in life insurance at low rates
- Use of worldwide world class recreational facilities
- Uniform allowance
- Tax free shopping at military exchanges and commissaries
Tuition Assistance
While attending seminary, Chaplain Candidates may apply for tuition assistance through the U.S. Army Reserve. You may be eligible for up to 100% of the tuition costs, up to $250 per credit hour with a maximum cap of $4500 per year. This program requires service of at least four years in a U.S. Army Reserve unit once you become a qualified Chaplain.Additional Chaplaincy Training
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
This training is acquired during the Chaplain Officers Basic Course in preparation for ministry to groups and individuals in crisis following a traumatic event.
Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP)
This training is gained during the Chaplain Officers Basic Course and prepares Chaplains to conduct premarital marriage enrichment and education workshops. Chaplains completing the training are certified as PREP instructors.
Clinical Pastoral Counseling (CPE)
This training is normally offered to select Chaplains between their third and sixth year of Active Duty. Selected chaplains can opt to earn a D.Min. while attending this program of study. During this time they become fully qualified chaplains for the institutional settings of prisons and hospitals.
Advanced Civilian Education
Selected full-time Chaplains are sent to top notch universities obtain a graduate degree in areas such as Ethics, World Religions, Family Life and Resource Management. Afterwards, they are employed in their area of training at key positions across the Army.
Army Reserve Chaplain Bonus
The Army Reserve is now offering a bonus of $10,000 for ministers entering a USA Reserve Troop Program Unit (TPU) with a six year commitment. The bonus is payable in a lump sum following the completion of the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course (CBOLC), which must be completed within 36 months of commissioning.
Army Chaplains who are currently serving in the Regular Army and decide to leave it in order to serve in a U.S. Army Reserve TPU are eligible for an Affiliation Bonus of $10,000.
Chaplain Buddy Program
If an individual desiring to enter Active Duty will identify and recruit another clergy associate for the Active Duty Chaplaincy, both will be guaranteed assignment to the same installation during their initial active duty service obligation (ADSO) tour. One or both applicants may be reservist chaplains.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES:
The guarantee under this program is for initial assignment, not for accessions selection. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board. If either applicant fails selection, neither is required to complete the appointment process.
- The guarantee under this program is for initial assignment only. At the end of the ADSO period, both chaplains may be reassigned to different locations. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board. If either applicant fails selection, neither is required to complete the appointment process.
- If an installation chaplain is the "recruiter" and that installation is not selected as the assignment of choice then the "recruiter" installation will be guaranteed a "fill" for their efforts.
- Chaplain recruits from under-represented or low-density faith groups will be considered for this program on a case-by-case basis.
- Installations eligible for consideration under this program will normally be limited to where FORSCOM and TRADOC units are located. Other installations will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations.
- The Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations (DACH-PER) will make decisions concerning eligibility for program participation before commitments are finalized with potential recruits.
Aloha, Edelweiss And ROK Program
A limited number of reserve chaplain and mature civilian applicants for the Active Duty Chaplaincy may pre-select Hawaii (Aloha), Europe (Edelweiss) or South Korea (ROK) as their first duty assignment. Chaplain Candidates are not eligible for participation in this program.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES:
The guarantee under this program is for initial assignment, not for accessions selection. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board. If either applicant fails selection, neither is required to complete the appointment process.
- This program is intended for use by Chaplain Recruiters and chaplains assigned to Hawaii, Korea and USAREUR for new accessions on a first-come, first-served basis. Mature civilians are those who have had clear pastoral experience (no PWE waivers) and/or who have previously worked in the requested country.
- The guarantee under this program is for the requested country during the initial ADSO tour only. Pinpoint assignment within the requested area is the responsibility of the local PER Manager. All applicants must be successfully considered for accessioning by an Accessions Board.
- Chaplain recruits from under-represented or low-density faith groups will be considered for this program on a case-by-case basis.
- The DACH-PER will determine the number of available assignment slots prior to the start of the Accessioning Year. This number may be adjusted during the year depending on the needs of the Army.
- The Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations (DACH-PER) will make decisions concerning eligibility for program participation before commitments are finalized with potential recruits.
