The Air Force Chaplain: Clergy or Officer

Abstract

The Air Force chaplain serves a dual role in the military. The chaplain is both clergy and officer. As clergy and officer, the chaplain must meet the qualifications of both church and military. However, after meeting the requirements of the military, the chaplain is selected for active duty by the endorsing body of his or her church. This process of meeting requirements of both church and military plus the endorsing process create a "dual allegiance" for the chaplain. The dual allegiance is born out in the military as the chaplain serves in both the capacity of clergyperson and officer. It is necessary for commanders and chaplains alike to understand potential areas of conflict if this allegiance is challenged by either the military institution or the church.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA393908

Entities

People

  • Michael T. Jones

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Air Force
  • Chaplains
  • Churches
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military Organizations
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Religion
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Universities
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Political Science/ International Relations/ European Studies