The Air Force Chaplain Candidate Program is an exciting opportunity for seminary and other professional religious school students to evaluate their compatibility and potential for commissioning as an Air Force Chaplain. The focus is on experiencing ministry in the Air Force during summer tours of active duty. As a chaplain candidate you will draw upon your background, education and experience to function as part of an Air Force chapel team. Upon entering the program you will be commissioned as a chaplain candidate, Second Lieutenant. When you graduate and are endorsed by your religious body, you will be eligible for reappointment as a Chaplain, First Lieutenant, in the USAF Reserve.
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Requirements
-- You must be a citizen of the United States, dual citizenship is not accepted.
-- You must be less than 35 years of age at the time of appointment. (Allow six months for processing)
-- Possess baccalaureate degree with not less than 120 semester hours of undergraduate credit from an accredited college or university.
-- Obtain ecclesiastical approval from your religious body's military endorser. Call our office at (478) 327-2270 if you need help locating the name, address, or phone number of your faith group endorser. (Your ecclesiastical approval must reach our office by 30 November to ensure training the following summer.)
-- Apply when enrolled full time in seminary. Must be eligible to train at least two summers, and it may include the summer folowing graduation. Enrollment must be in an accredited or recognized theological seminary or professional school of religion.
--You must be working toward a professional religious degree such as the master of divinity or its equivalent.
-- Be able to complete approximately 100 days of active duty training during at least two summer vacation periods prior to graduation, or within 90 days following graduation from seminary
-- Meet all military medical requirements and weight standards
-- Pass a National Security Agency check on your personal history and background and qualify for a security clearance
-- No drug abuse or criminal record
The program
-- Approximately 100 days of active duty service over two summers
-- Must be completed in two or three years depending on seminary time remaining.
-- Only one summer may be directly after seminary graduation
The benefits
-- Supervised ministry experience (with seminary approval)
-- A diverse ministry setting
-- Supplement/Expand/Enrich your ministerial education
-- Support the defense of our freedom
-- Government funded resource support
-- Possibility of moving into the Reserve or Active Duty Chaplaincy
-- Second Lieutenant pay and benefits
-- Travel to and from all active duty training tours is paid by the government.
-- Tuition Assistance
The Air Force currently offers $4,500 seminary tuition assistance per year after your first summer of training. For more information about tuition assistance please call 1 (800) 525-0102 and ask for the Military Training Division.
Scholarships
The Military Chaplains Association annually awards four $2,000 scholarships for Chaplain Candidates of the military services. If you would like to request an application for the scholarship you may write:
Military Chaplains Association
PO Box 42660
Washington DC 20015-0660
Or you may follow this link to their web site, and download the application:
http://worldnet.net/~mca/scholar.htm
Are you interested in the Candidate Program?
Please write for further information.
HQ AFRC/HC
255 Richard Ray Blvd Ste 111
Robins AFB, GA 31098-1661
Regional Chaplain Candidate Recruiters:
East Coast
Chaplain (Maj.) Paul Gunn
478-447-6044
chaplainprogram@gmail.com
West Coast
Chaplain (L.t Col.) David Pendleton
913-752-7928
chaplainprogram@gmail.com
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