Chaplains from academies?

Riv-Rod

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Just out of curiosity, do any Chaplains go through the Naval Academy?
 
Not exactly,...

The main purpose of the Academy is to produce line officers,,, that being said there have been if I am not mistaken a few USNA Grads that became chaplains (and other non traditional careers) that got to be a chaplain through a lateral transfer and after they had been through post graduate schools of divinity ( I think that Doctor of Divinity is the req, for full chaplain,) that are accredited. My own pastor, was an USNA graduate, however I do not think that he ever held the position of Naval Chaplain, though I may be wrong, I think he came into the Ministry after his Naval Career.
 
id never really heard of any going through the SAs, im guessing most go to seminary then the Naval Chaplain Corps?
 
Chaplaincy

Just out of curiosity, do any Chaplains go through the Naval Academy?

The class of 2007 had one grad service select for chaplain and go directly to a seminary.

The requirement to be a Navy chaplain is ordination by a denomination's ecclesiastical body, meaning that a religious institution has ordained the individual. Most groups require a Master of Divinity degree through an accredited institution. There are scholarship programs for seminary students to get the USN to pay tuition in exchange for service after ordination.
 
Rear Admiral Alan "Blues" Baker is a Naval Academy graduate and Surface Warfare Officer. His career started off as a SWO, he then transferred to Navy Reserves while obtaining his ordination, then re-entered Active Duty as a chaplain. He served as the Naval Academy's Command Chaplain a few years back and now serves as the Chaplain of the Marine Corps and Deputy Chaplain of the Navy. Most likely, he will be the next Chief of Chaplains, the highest ranking chaplain in the United States Navy.
 
I believe the majority of military chaplains are direct commissions from civilian life, similar to JAGs, healthcare providers and other staff communities.

That said, I have known many chaplains who served on active duty as either officers or enlisted personnel, then went to college/seminary and came back in as chaplains. I know at least 2 USNA graduates who are chaplains -- they were warfare officers who got out, went to seminary, came back in.
 
I can tell you for a fact that two of USNA's chaplains are graduates. Another is a prior Coast Guard helo pilot.
 
There are USNA grads who are chaplains but, other than the person from 2007 cited above, I've never heard of a mid going directly from USNA to being a Chaplain. Like JAG, virtually everyone spends some time doing something else first and then becomes a Chaplain.

I attend a military chapel (Army) each week and every Chaplain we've had has done quite a few things before becoming a Chaplain. Most served on active duty in some other specialty (including 2 Rangers, a prior Navy enlisted). We've had a police officer, civilian ministers, etc. Personally, I think the "real world" experience is invaluable for a Chaplain.
 
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