Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel

OUR MISSION IS VITAL ... TO PROVIDE MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH A VISIBLE REMINDER OF THE HOLY IN THE MIDST OF COMBAT AND CHAOS!! PCCMP supports the worldwide communities of people in which our military personnel are serving; pastor our far-flung chaplains and support them in their ministry and touch the lives of the military soldier’s family.

TYPES OF MILITARY PROGRAMS

The chaplain to the military is an ordained minister in uniform; "on loan" by the Church to the Army, Air Force, or Navy -- which also provides chaplains for the Marine and Coast Guard.

THE RESERVE COMPONENT CHAPLAINCY
This program leads to a direct commission as an officer in the Reserve or National Guard, and a commitment of two days each month for drills and two weeks of annual training. While remaining in civilian ministry and careers, Reserve chaplains have the opportunity to serve their country. As members of the Reserve Component, chaplains are classified as Ready Reservists and consequently subject to call to duty in accordance with the needs of the service or when the unit to which they are affiliated is mobilized. Barring a national emergency or mobilization, chaplains may choose to serve and accumulate points toward retirement. They may also apply for temporary active duty assignments.

A Reserve Component Chaplain desiring to devote full-time in ministry to the Armed Forces may request Extended Active Duty. Opportunity for this full-time military ministry, however, is normally afforded only after one has served for two years in a ministerial capacity following ordination. Waiver of the two-year "pastoral requirement" may be requested at the time of the interview before the Council Interview Committee. The granting of a waiver is determined by the Committee on the basis of the needs of the service and the qualifications of the candidate.

THE ACTIVE DUTY CHAPLAINCY
This program leads to a direct commission as a Reserve officer for three years of active service. Chaplains on active duty may later apply for an indefinite extension and a regular commission.

Chaplains on Extended Duty are assigned by the branch of service in which they hold a commission, and may be ordered to any part of the world for duty; and, in the case of the Navy, to ships at sea, the Marine Corps or Coast Guard. While there are some isolated duty assignments outside of the continental U.S. demanding separation from the family, sometimes for possibly a year, the married chaplain is generally able to be accompanied by dependents in the U.S.A. or overseas where adequate housing and schools are available. The military service funds the cost of the transfer for family and household effects between assignments. The length of these assignments is generally from two to four years, although there are occasions when moves occur more frequently.

Chaplains serving on Active Duty should understand that they do not hold tenure, and may be involuntarily separated from the service at any time. However, after the initial three-year obligated service to the military for Extended Active Duty, a chaplain by choice may elect to: return to civilian life and resign his/her commission; return to civilian life and retain an affiliation in a Reserve Component; be extended on Active duty in a Reserve Status or be augmented into the Regular Branch of Service.

THE VETERANS AFFAIRS CHAPLAINCY
Veterans Affairs Chaplains (serving as spiritual counselors in moral and religious problems) are concerned primarily with providing for the religious needs of hospitalized veterans. The chaplain provides a pastoral, sacramental, and instructional ministry to patients and, when necessary, to their families.

Appointments to the VA Chaplain Service are made under the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with Civil Service regulations. The Chaplain may serve in one of a number of different categories: full-time; part-time (prescheduled assignment of less than 40 hrs per week); intermittent (not prescheduled assignment on a limited basis for a specific ministry); contract (utilized on a limited basis for a specific ministry).

THE SEMINARIAN CHAPLAINCY
Each branch of the service has a program for students enrolled in theological seminaries called the "Chaplain Candidate Program." This program allows individuals to explore the military ministry option while attending the seminary. It is designed to expose the seminarian to the diverse and demanding role of Chaplains in a variety of settings. If accepted for the Program, the seminarian is commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army or Air Force Reserve or an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. At graduation, the Candidate is encouraged after ordination to pursue a reserve status. Being a part of the Program allows the candidate to get a head start on credits toward the pay scale and retirement while gaining experience and financial support.

THE CIVIL AIR PATROL AND OTHER AGENCIES CHAPLAINCY
Requirements for the Civil Air Patrol endorsement and for other agencies will differ from the above programs. Contact the Council Office for specific information.

ALL OF THE ABOVE PROGRAMS REQUIRE THAT CANDIDATES MEET STRICT ECCLESIASTICAL/MILITARY ENDORSEMENT CRITERIA - PLEASE READ THESE QEA VERY CAREFULLY.

PCCMP is supported by:

the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP);

Cumberland Presbyterian (CP); Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (CPCA);

Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)

and the generous contributions of friends and well wishers.

PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL FOR CHAPLAINS

AND MILITARY PERSONNEL (PCCMP)

“a ministry to those who serve our Nation”