How to Be Army Reserve (Chaplain) - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 15, 2021 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The Army Reserve (Chaplain) is a specialized branch of the United States Army that provides spiritual guidance and support to its members. As a result, the Army Reserve Chaplain is a critically important role in the U.S. Armed Forces. The chaplain's responsibilities include providing counseling and religious services, leading religious observances, and helping to foster a sense of unit cohesion and morale.

the chaplain serves as an advisor to commanding officers on issues related to religion, ethics, and morale. Through their presence, chaplains bring a spiritual element to the military and help to ensure that the service members of the Army Reserve remain spiritually grounded and supported during their time in service.

Steps How to Become

Meet the basic requirements. You must be an ordained minister, rabbi or other religious leader in good standing with your denomination and have a minimum of a bachelors degree. Additionally, you must be between the ages of 18 and 42, be an American citizen and have no more than six dependents.
Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. This test is used to measure your aptitude for various military jobs and can often help you decide on a career path.
Attend Officer Candidate School (OCS). OCS is an intensive 10-week course that includes physical fitness, leadership, and military history training.
Apply for Chaplaincy training. You will need to complete the Chaplain Candidate Program application, provide letters of recommendation from your religious leader and pass a physical exam.
Complete Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CBOLC). This nine-week course is designed to prepare you for the duties of a chaplain in the Army Reserve.
Obtain a commission as a Chaplain in the Army Reserve. After completing CBOLC, you will be commissioned as an Army Reserve Chaplain.
Serve your country. As a Chaplain in the Army Reserve, you will serve part-time and have the opportunity to serve your country while continuing to work in your civilian position.

Joining the Army Reserve (Chaplain) requires a high level of commitment, reliability, and qualification. To be successful, an individual must meet the requirements set forth by the Army and demonstrate a strong commitment to their religious beliefs and values. This includes completing basic training, completing chaplain-specific training, and passing a physical fitness test.

an individual must have a degree in theology or religious studies and must be endorsed by a recognized religious organization. Being reliable and qualified is essential for success in this role as it requires an individual to be able to provide spiritual guidance, advice, and comfort in times of crisis. Furthermore, being reliable and qualified also allows an individual to serve as a positive role model in the military community and help ensure that soldiers are resilient and prepared for missions.

You may want to check Sports Team Chaplain, Military Deployment Support Services (Chaplain), and Education Chaplain for alternative.

Job Description

Chaplain Assistant
Religious Support Technician
Chaplains Assistant-Reserve
Chaplains Assistant-Active Duty
Senior Chaplains Assistant
Chaplains Office Administrator
Religious Program Specialist
Director of Religious Programs
Chaplain Corps Officer
Chaplain Corps Captain

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of the Bible, Christian theology, and Christian ministry
Knowledge of the history and mission of the U. S. Army Reserve and its role in national security
Ability to provide spiritual counseling to members of the U. S. Army Reserve
Ability to lead religious services and other worship activities
Ability to develop, coordinate, and conduct religious education programs
Ability to provide advice regarding the ethical and moral issues faced by members of the U. S. Army Reserve
Ability to build and maintain relationships with local religious organizations
Knowledge of military regulations and policies regarding religious observance
Ability to provide guidance and support to families of military personnel
Ability to work effectively in a diverse environment

The most important skill to have in the Army Reserve (Chaplain) is leadership. Having strong leadership skills allows Chaplains to effectively serve their congregation and be a positive influence in the lives of their spiritual followers. Leadership skills are also necessary for Chaplains to be able to effectively manage their time, delegate tasks, and organize resources in order to meet the needs of the congregation.

Chaplains must be able to communicate effectively with their congregation, understand their spiritual needs, and provide guidance and support. By having strong leadership skills, Chaplains can ensure that their congregation is provided with the best possible spiritual experience.

Funeral Home Chaplain, Spiritual Care Chaplain, and Military Family Life Counselor (Chaplain) are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What inspired you to pursue a career as an Army Reserve Chaplain?
How familiar are you with the Army Reserve Chaplain requirements?
What specific experience do you have that would be beneficial to the role of an Army Reserve Chaplain?
What do you think are the most important qualities for a successful Army Reserve Chaplain?
How would you handle a situation in which a soldier was in need of spiritual guidance?
What do you think are the primary ethical considerations a chaplain should take into account when counseling members of the military?
How would you go about balancing the demands of a civilian job with your Reserve Chaplain duties?
What strategies would you use to effectively manage a congregation with diverse beliefs?
How would you handle a situation in which a soldier requested counseling on a topic outside of your own personal beliefs?
How would you create an inclusive environment for all members of the chaplaincy team regardless of faith or non-faith backgrounds?

Common Tools in Industry

Word processing software. A computer program used to create and edit documents (e. g. Microsoft Word).
Spreadsheet software. A computer program used to create and manage data with rows, columns and tables (e. g. Microsoft Excel).
Database software. A computer program used to store and organize data in a structured format (e. g. Microsoft Access).
Presentation software. A computer program used to create slideshows for viewing (e. g. Microsoft PowerPoint).
Calendar software. A computer program used to organize and schedule events (e. g. Microsoft Outlook).
Video conferencing software. A computer program used to conduct meetings remotely (e. g. Zoom).
Group messaging software. A computer program used to communicate with a group of people (e. g. Slack).
Project management software. A computer program used to manage projects and tasks (e. g. Asana).
File backup software. A computer program used to backup files and data (e. g. Carbonite).
Digital dictation software. A computer program used to transcribe audio files (e. g. Dragon NaturallySpeaking).

Professional Organizations to Know

Association of Professional Chaplains
Society for the Study of Ministry
Interfaith Alliance
National Association of Catholic Chaplains
International Conference of Police Chaplains
Academy of Professional Chaplains
American Association of Christian Counselors
American Association of Pastoral Counselors
Military Chaplains Association
Spiritual Care Association

We also have Mental Health Chaplain, Chaplain, and Fire Department Chaplain jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Active Duty. A military duty status that requires members of the armed forces to be in a full-time duty status and is usually accompanied by full pay and allowances.
Reserve Duty. A military duty status in which members of the armed forces are obligated to perform periodic training and other duties with their reserve unit, but are not on active duty.
Reserve Component. The collective term used to describe the Reserve components of the U. S. Armed Forces, which include the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve.
Reserve Obligation. An obligation to serve in the U. S. Armed Forces either as an active duty service member or as a member of a reserve component.
Mobilization. The process of assembling and organizing personnel, equipment, and supplies for active military duty in an emergency or for a war or other contingency operation.
Deployment. The process of moving personnel and/or equipment from one location to another.
Chaplaincy. A ministry of pastoral care and spiritual support provided by a chaplain in the military, often with a focus on spiritual health and well-being, moral guidance, and faith-based counseling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the Army Reserve Chaplain Corps? A1: The Army Reserve Chaplain Corps is a diverse and dedicated corps of ordained clergy and lay leaders who provide religious ministry and spiritual care to Soldiers and their families in the United States Army Reserve. Q2: How many Chaplains are in the Army Reserve? A2: There are currently about 1,800 Chaplains in the Army Reserve. Q3: What type of duties do Army Reserve Chaplains perform? A3: Army Reserve Chaplains provide religious and spiritual guidance and counseling, conduct worship services, lead prayer and devotionals, provide support to family members of deployed Soldiers, and provide moral leadership to Soldiers in times of conflict. Q4: What qualifications must a person have to become an Army Reserve Chaplain? A4: In order to become an Army Reserve Chaplain, a person must be an ordained minister or a lay leader in good standing in their faith group, possess a Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent, and meet all other requirements as outlined by the Army Reserve Chaplain Corps. Q5: How can I find out more about becoming an Army Reserve Chaplain? A5: You can learn more about becoming an Army Reserve Chaplain by visiting the official website for the Army Reserve Chaplain Corps at https://www.usar.army.mil/Chaplains/.