Officer
Chaplains aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) baptize a Sailor on the ship's fantail.
Clergy
Job Overview:
Whether on land or hundreds of miles out to sea, members of the Chaplain Corps are the spiritual and emotional guides for a large and diverse group of Sailors, Marines, Coastguardsmen, and their families.
Pay:
Job Description:
Members of the clergy play a vital role in helping their fellow sea-service personnel negotiate the crucial moments in their lives. They provide moral support for young people away from home for the first time, lend advice to individuals facing personal or emotional difficulties, and provide spiritual assistance to people from all walks of life.
What Will You Do?
Navy Chaplains serve on ships and at foreign and domestic bases throughout various Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard commands. As a Navy Chaplain, some of your responsibilities may include:
- Conduct worship services in a variety of settings
- Perform religious rites and ceremonies such as weddings and funeral services
- Counsel individuals who seek guidance
- Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school and youth groups
- Visit and provide spiritual guidance and care to hospitalized personnel and/or their family members
- Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs
- Promote attendance at religious services, retreats, and conferences
Earn While You Learn
Opportunities abound for continuing education and training throughout a Navy Chaplain’s career. Chaplains can continue their education by attending one of the military service colleges to study military strategies, tactics, and joint operations with other branches of the armed forces. As an Officer, the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California is also an attractive tour of duty option that allows you to earn a master’s or doctoral degree while being paid full-time as a Naval Officer. Other opportunities include supervision in clinical pastoral education and tuition assistance for numerous off-duty educational programs.
Special Pay/Bonuses
Fringe benefits include free and low-cost travel, 30 days paid vacation every year, Officer status, and the use of Officers’ Clubs and recreation facilities. The Navy also offers Chaplains a generous retirement program and full family benefits as well as tax-free on-base shopping privileges.
Skills and Training
The Navy accepts clergy from over 100 denominations and faith groups. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens at least 21 years of age; meet certain medical and physical fitness standards; hold a BA or BS degree, with not less than 120 semester hours from a qualified educational institution; and hold a post-baccalaureate graduate degree, which includes 72 semester hours of graduate-level course work in theological or related studies. At least one-half (i.e., 36) of these hours must include topics in general religion, theology, religious philosophy, ethics, and/or the foundational writings from one’s religious tradition. Accredited distance-education graduate programs are acceptable.
Chaplains then attend the Navy Chaplain School in Newport, Rhode Island for a basic orientation course.
The Navy also has a “Chaplain Candidate Program Officer” (CCPO) Program for seminary students who might be interested in obtaining a commission before completing their graduate studies. The CCPO program offers significant pay advantages once a Chaplain enters active duty. The program also includes on-the-job training under the direct supervision of an active duty Chaplain.
Career Outlook
The Chaplain Corps is a high-profile community where you’ll have the opportunity to practice a full scope of religious ministry. In addition to the excellent training and preparation in religious and administrative positions you’ll receive, you will also have the chance to see many places and meet many people you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
CAPT Diana Meehan