I told you that I’ve decided to join the Army Reserve as a Chaplain Candidate. But I failed to explain what that means…

1. I’d be an officer.
2. I would NOT be deployable. I don’t do monthly Reserve drill.
3. They pay 4,500 dollars a year for me to go to Seminary.
4. I have to attend 13 weeks of Chaplain Officer Training at Fort Jackson, SC. That can be done over two summers. I can also shadow a chaplain for additional training.
5. Four to 6 years from now I’d finish M.Div at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary here in Springfield, I would be ordained and become a Reserve Army Chaplain. At that point I WOULD be deployable.
6. After two years of serving in the Reserves, I could go Active duty. Joel and I would both be officers. We would be assigned to the same base.

There is A LOT of paperwork that has to be done to become a chaplain candidate. I have to go fill out four different application packets and deal with four different offices. AGTS, Army, Assemblies of God Missions Commission, and Assemblies of God Southern Missouri District. Apparently they don’t just let anybody do this. Oh and I have to take the Army physical … fun fun fun…

If you have questions, please ask here. Or do a little research.