Religious Program Specialists

Background

The military has personnel from many religions and faiths. The military provides chaplains and religious program specialists to help meet the spiritual needs of its personnel. Religious program specialists assist chaplains with religious services, religious education programs, and related administrative duties.

What They Do

Religious program specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assist chaplains in conducting religious services
• Assist chaplains in planning and preparing religious programs and activities
• Maintain relations with religious communities and public service organizations
• Organize charitable and public service volunteer programs
• Perform administrative duties for chaplains
• Prepare religious, educational, and devotional materials

Physical Demands

The ability to speak clearly and distinctly is required to enter this career.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to express ideas clearly
• Interest in administrative work
• Interest in religious guidance
• Knowledge of various religious customs and beliefs
• Sensitivity to the needs of others

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Accounting
• English
• Public speaking

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Religious program specialists in the military usually work indoors. They also serve aboard ships or with land and air units in the field.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• 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 enlisted personnel.

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 seven to eight weeks of classroom instruction.

Course content typically includes:

• Guidance and counseling techniques
• Leadership skills
• Office procedures
• Principles of religious support programs

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian religious program specialists help manage churches and religious schools. Their duties are similar to those performed by military religious program specialists, including planning religious programs and preparing religious educational materials. They are also called directors of religious activities.

Related Civilian Careers

• Clergy

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 1,000 religious program specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, religious program specialists help chaplains and supervisors with administrative matters. With experience, they gain more responsibility for organizing activities and working in the local community. In time, they may supervise other specialists.