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SERVE YOUR CALLING WHILE SERVING YOUR COUNTRY

While some are called to serve God, others are called to serve their country. Those who serve both are known as USV-JSC Chaplains. It's a calling that brings with it some very special responsibilities. The USV-JSC Chaplaincy offers Clergy the unique opportunity to guide Soldiers and their families through life's triumphs and tragedies. While active duty military Chaplains are involved in the Soldier's "Circle of Life," from births and baptisms, to confirmations and marriage, the USV-JSC Chaplain is specifically involved to provide comfort and support to our nation's veterans during times of illness and by providing military honors at graveside.  The main mission of USV-JSV is to provide, "boots on graves," honoring those who have served this nation in every conflict and battle since World War II.  Every day, USV-JSC Chaplains positively affect the lives of  Veterans and their families.

Answer the call as a USV-JSC Chaplain, you'll enter the service as an Officer, in the Army, or in the military branch of service that you served in on active duty.  You'll also attend the Chaplain Officer Training Course (CHOTC). This is an orientation course where new Chaplains and candidates learn the fundamental military tasks and common skills necessary for all Soldiers as well as how to effectively perform religious support duties in a military environment. 

The USV-JSC Chaplaincy is broader than a typical civilian ministry because Chaplains have the unique opportunity to connect Soldiers and family members to God on a daily basis. As a spiritual leader, you'll be helping  men and women become effective citizens in body, mind and spirit.

The U.S. Volunteers Joint Services Command. Bringing God closer to the Veteran and the Veteran closer to God.

 

Chaplains

UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER JOINT SERVICES COMMAND CHAPLAIN REQUIREMENTS:

As an USV-JSC Chaplain you will have the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of Veterans and their families. The USV-JSC Chaplaincy includes clergy from all denominations. USV-JSC Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of the USV-JSC and they perform religious ceremonies from births and baptisms, to confirmations and marriage, to illness and last rites.

As a Chaplain Officer, you will lead a Unit Ministry Team (UMT), which consists of you and a trained Chaplain Assistant.  Chaplain Assistants are fully trained on the conduct of worship services, as well as Soldier-specific tasks.

The responsibilities of an USV-JSC Chaplain include:

bulletCommanding and controlling a Unit Ministry Team.
bulletCoordinating/directing a full program of religious ministries, including workshops, pastoral counseling, religious education and other activities.
bulletDeveloping doctrine, organizations and ceremonies for unique chaplain missions.
bulletInstructing chaplain skills to Chaplain Assistants
bulletServing as spiritual advisor to other units, including Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve organizations.
bulletServing as USV-JSC primary public relations officer informing the public on the mission and primary purpose for which the USV-JSC was formed to provided this nation's veterans with honors at their funeral services.

 

 

To be an Officer in the United States Volunteers - Joint Services Command, you must obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your faith group. This endorsement should certify that you are:

bulletA clergy person in your denomination or faith group.
bulletQualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a Chaplain in the U. S V. J .S .C.
bulletSensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army.
bulletPossess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours.
bulletPossess a master's degree in divinity or a graduate degree in theological studies, which includes at least 72 hours or having served in a Pastoral office for a minimum of 5 years.
 

 

Chaplains do not go through Basic Training. Instead, they attend the Chaplain Officer Training Course (CHOTC), which is a 12-week course taught at USV-JSC University (Location specific). It will provide you with an introduction to the non-combatant common core skills,  writing and Chaplaincy-specific training. The U.S. Military Commands  will neither require nor allow you to bear arms as part of your military duties.

 

 

Being a Chaplain in the USV-JSC  requires certain leadership qualities. A leader exhibits self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence.  Leaders are physically fit and can perform under physical and mental pressures. Leaders make decisions quickly, always focusing on completing the mission successfully, showing respect for  subordinates and other military officers.   Leaders lead from the front and adjust to environments that are always changing. They are judged by their ability to make decisions on their own and bear ultimate moral responsibility for those decisions.

 

 

USV-JSC Chaplains may continue to specialize and serve in the Chaplaincy at ever increasing levels of leadership and responsibility.

 

Chaplains Assistant

 

Crisis Responder

 

 

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Last modified: 06/07/08