I am very much desiring a career change to be able to take on my student loan debts. I am considering returning to school, however I most likely will have to take on more loans, and there are no community colleges in my area. Military Chaplain programs is one idea. Do any of you know of any? I do not have a MA degree, but do have a BA.
With all due respect it would appear to me that becoming a Chaplin in the military would be a calling rather than an avenue of paying off student loans.
What ever the case, if I were you I'd personally meet with an active duty Chaplin to discuss the politics involved with such an undertaking.
Surely you are familiar with the Navy Chaplin who was drummed out of the military a couple of years ago.
Now, as I understand it's against the policy at the Air Force Academy to even Mention Christ.
Otherwise, just go out and set the world on fire for the Lord.
Well, it truly is a calling - but the advantage of assisting you in paying off student loans does not make it a bad thing, as some may assume.
The reason I am saying it's a calling is because every evangelical chaplain must work within a given set of guidelines.
As a military chaplain, you will take an oath to defend our nation against all enemies - foriegn and domestic - and that you will obey the orders of the president and all officers appointed over you.
This means that you agree to abide by the guidelines given for chaplains serving in the U.S. military.
I would simply say that you should familiarize yourself with these guidelines and inquire of the Lord.
Personally, I have seen how difficult it is for chaplains from evangelical backgrounds - and I thank God for their perserverance as they work within the framework they've been given to work in.
I found that as well. I will look into it. This is just one program of several I was thinking about. Most likely I am going to have to relocate to another state with a healthier job market. I remember before I was living in a very beautiful (yet very depressed) county in California. I had a really hard time finding steady employment. When I relocated to the SF bay Area I found a job very easily, as there was 15,000+ more opportunities. The grass is sometimes very much greener on the other side of the fence if willing to explore it.
USN2Pulpit, is the oath today the same for Officers as it is Enlisted?
I remember a few years ago about one Soldier refusing to wear the UN Helmet and/or the UN Patch on his uniform as he took an oath to defend America..., not the world under the Command of the UN.