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Chaplain Candidate Program; Pathway to become a military religious leader

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicole Langley
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Glorifying God, Honoring Airmen and Serving All is the vision statement of the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Service. For those in the Chaplain Candidate Program, that is the vision they aspire to call their own.

With this unique program, interested candidates have the opportunity to experience life as a military chaplain without an initial commitment - a sort of internship for potential chaplains.
 
"This summer has been wonderful and has taught me a lot," said a chaplain candidate from Pennsylvania, 2nd Lt. Thomas Webb, who spent the summer here at Dover Air Force Base, where he got a taste of chaplain life. 

With the tremendous role that military chaplains have within the military community, it's clear the choice that candidates must make about entering the Air Force cannot be taken lightly. 

Chaplains play a vital role in accomplishing the Air Force's mission. Working alongside Airmen, they serve as religious leaders, mentors and trusted counsel - whether at home or in deployed locations. They not only lead worship services of their own religion, but also ensure all Airmen, regardless of their faith, are ensured the right to freely exercise their own religious rights. 

One of Dover Air Force Base's own chaplains explained the importance of candidates getting real-world chaplain experience. 

"Without (the experience on base) chaplains can become spiritually overwhelmed and miss their full shepherding potential, at the expense of military personnel," said Chaplain James Hendrick, a captain assigned to Dover AFB. 

However, before they can wear a sacred badge identifying them as an Air Force chaplain, they must first complete the Chaplain Candidate Program. 

The Air Force Chaplain Candidate Program is designed for students pursuing professional religious degrees such as a Master of Divinity or its equivalent, and is for those who are enrolled full time in an accredited theological seminary or religious institution. 

With a diverse Air Force comes a diverse chaplain corps. The Air Force accepts qualified applicants from every faith, to include: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim clergy. 

Those who are accepted into the program are commissioned as second lieutenant-chaplain candidates, and remain at that rank until they graduate from seminary or other religious schools. Once they have graduated and are endorsed by their own religious affiliation, they are eligible for reappointment as a chaplain, with the rank of first lieutenant. They must choose if they want to serve in the active-duty Air Force, Air Force Reserves or Air National Guard. 

Lieutenant Webb will soon be entering his third and final year of seminary, and said he felt like it was a calling for him to pursue the chaplaincy. 

Pursuing a career in the Air Force was nothing new for this lieutenant, having served eight and a half years in the supply career field, Lieutenant Webb separated from active duty nearly four years ago at the rank of staff sergeant. 

Today, Lieutenant Webb is a full-time seminary student and serves as senior pastor at a church in Harrisburg, Pa. Licensed as a minister and later ordained in the early 1990s through his religious organization, Webb said he couldn't deny his desire to serve in the Air Force. 

With the military way of life a tradition in his family and the appeal of the Air Force in his mind since childhood, the lieutenant explained, "The call was there to come back and serve in uniform." 

Having been in the candidate program for nearly a year, Lieutenant Webb has balanced many new responsibilities over the past few months. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant-chaplain candidate in December of 2005, finished the remainder of the school year, then began his summer by attending Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell AFB, Ala., followed by another two weeks at Maxwell in the Chaplain Service Institute. 

After all of his initial training was completed, Lieutenant Webb served his first of two active-duty tours here at Dover, and will serve his second next summer in a different Air Force command after graduating from seminary. 

Looking back on his time in the Chaplain Candidate Program, Chaplain Hendrick, Lieutenant Webb's supervisor for the summer, said the program greatly helped him to determine which ministerial path to pursue - civilian or military. 

"It gave me authentic exposure to military ministry," Chaplain Hendrick explained.
Chaplain Hendrick, like Lieutenant Webb, also served as an enlisted Air Force member prior to entering the Chaplain Candidate Program. The chaplain said God summoned his heart in 1995 to vocational ministry, while still serving in the Air Force. 

"I loved God's call on my life and the Air Force community. The Air Force chaplaincy allows me to enjoy both," said Chaplain Hendrick. 

With a chaplain candidate on his team this summer, Chaplain Hendrick explained with all candidates, it is his responsibility to expose them to as much military ministry as possible, to aid them in their decision. 

The chaplain said the candidate program is helpful for those who are trying to make a decision about civilian or military ministry after seminary. 

"It offers candidates a real-life exposure to ministry in a military context," said Chaplain Hendrick. 

While Lieutenant Webb has some time left to decide which route he wants to take after seminary, he expressed he still has a desire to work with his home church. Regardless of which capacity he chooses to serve in post seminary, after serving with the chaplain corps here at Dover, Lieutenant Webb said he did not leave empty handed. 

"I'll take the skills I've acquired, such as sermon preparation, being sensitive to (military member's) needs, interacting with people and keeping people encouraged." 

For those who are interested in the candidate program, Chaplain Hendrick offers some words of wisdom. 

"Military ministry is an active ministry, whereas civilian ministry is more reflective."
He explained that candidates need to spend time affirming that ministry in the military accords with the highest calling in their life. 

Regardless of religious affiliation or their decision to serve in the military, chaplain candidates are taught the importance of the "ministry of presence" - to be out among the people in different areas, interacting with them and letting them know their military chaplains care. 

"It is a tremendous blessing and privilege to be able to spiritually shepherd military members and their families ... and a sacred role exclusive to military chaplains," Chaplain Hendrick said.

For more information, contact the Chaplain Candidate Program recruiting office at 1-800-223-1784, extension 72270 or visit them on their Web site at http://www.afrc.af.mil/library/chaplain/howtojoin/candidate/index.asp.