Chaplains
Background
The military provides for the spiritual needs of its personnel by offering religious services, moral guidance, and counseling. Chaplains conduct military worship services for military personnel and perform other spiritual duties covering beliefs and practices of all religious faiths.
What They Do
Chaplains in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct worship services in a variety of religious faiths
- Counsel individuals who seek guidance
- Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school and youth groups
- Perform religious rites and ceremonies, such as weddings and funeral services
- Prepare religious speeches and publications
- Promote attendance at religious services, retreats, and conferences
- Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs
- Visit and provide spiritual guidance to personnel in hospitals and to their families
Physical Demands
No information available.
Special Requirements
A master's degree in theology is required to enter this career. Ordination and ecclesiastical endorsement from a recognized religious denomination are also required.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
- Interest in planning and directing the work of others
- Sensitivity to the needs of others
Helpful School Subjects
No information available.
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Chaplains in the military usually work in offices, hospitals, and places of worship. Those assigned to sea duty work aboard ships. Those assigned to land combat units sometimes work outdoors.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for officers.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training consists of three to seven weeks of classroom instruction.
Course content typically includes:
- Administration and leadership techniques
- Pastoral counseling methods
- Procedures for planning programs
- Role and responsibility of military chaplains
- Training and education methods
Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian chaplains work in places of worship, hospitals, universities, and correctional institutions. They perform duties similar to those performed in the military. However, they are almost always affiliated with a particular religious faith. Chaplains are also called clergy, ministers, preachers, priests, or rabbis.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 3,500 chaplains of various faiths. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new chaplains due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. Military chaplains may advance to become directors of religious programs in their services.