In order to qualify for the Army Chaplaincy, you must recve endorsement from an ecclesiastical endorsing agency recognized by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. This endorsement must certify that you are:
a. A fully qualified member of the clergy of your religious faith group.
b. Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally to serve as an Army Chaplain.
c. A member of the clergy who is sensitive to religious pluralism and who is willing to support, directly or indirectly, the free exercise of religion for soldier, their families and other authorized Army personnel.
Other specific qualifications:
1. Commissioning for chaplains must take place prior to the applicant's 40th birthday. (The entire process takes about a year, so the applicant should begin NLT his/her 39th birthday.)
2. The applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours from an accredited college or university.
3. The applicant must have completed 3 resident years of graduate professional study in theology or related subjects (normally validated by the possession of a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree, or 90 semester hours), at an accredited graduate school.
4. Be a citizen of the United States. A background investigation is required for all personnel in conjunction with their appointment as a commissioned officer in the Army.
5. Able to receive a favorable National Agency Check.
6. Physically qualified.