I would like to join the AF and was looking into the Chaplain, but you have to be a priest Im assuming (im catholic), so thats out of the question. I heard you can be a chaplain assistant though. Anyone know much about that? I majored in Finanace in college, so its not exactly related to my major. If I need to have Theology classes, is it possible to go in under another field and take classes so I would be able to transfer down the road, or is that just wishful thinking?

On a different question...how hard is it to be accepted into OCS? I know the air force is pretty overpopulated now, so Im assuming its really hard to get in due to all the competition.

Hmmm, don't think your going to find too many bible thumpers running around in here. The closest we do come to having anyone resembling a Chaplin in here is our northern friend Rocketeer. He's married to the Good Padre.


Now if you want to talk about war, women, booze an fighting, this is the place!

haha, fair enough. Thanks for the reply anyway. On the other hand, would anyone know about getting into the finance dept? Just trying to see what my options are. If chaplin isn't, I do have a degree in finance.

Not sure about the USAF, might want to talk to a recruiter, but in the USN and USMC Chaplain's Assistants are enlisted folks. Would be better to use that degree and go in as an officer in finance.

yeah, that sounds to be the smartest choice. Especially if I need to find a job once I would be out. Thanks for the input.

I talked to a recruiter. I was told that basically if I want a chance at becoming an officer I will have to go in as enlisted and apply for being an officer, which will take at least 4years if not more. Is it worth going enlisted or should I look into another service? WHat are the chances of being able to transfer into the air force if I were a officer in another branch? THanks for all the help so far. I appreciate it. Just trying to cross all my Ts if you will.

Sounds fishy. Sounds like a recruiter trying to talk you into going in enlisted because he needs to meet quota. Although, not being a USAF recruiter, this could be the case. Try to find an officer recruiter (or whatever they're called in the USAF).

yeah, I talked to both the enlistment recruiter and a officer recruiter. The officer recruiter told me I could still apply, but I wouldn't have much chance. He said they are recruiting from within. My friend is joining the army, which I have been thinking about as well. I don't know too much about the army, I better start investigating now. Last thing I would want is to be stopped at a glass ceiling and not be able to advance, but be stuck at a stand still in my career or even worse kicked out because they are too many people.

Whether you get accepted into the Air Force officer corps is dependant on whether if your degree is in something that the Air Force can use. For example the Air Force or any service for that matter, has no use for a degree in Archeology. As for that other recruiter, he was trying to pull the wool over your eyes by saying that you needed to go in as a enlisted first, the Gunny is absolutely right, he was just trying to "make mission" as recruiters say. I know I was one when I was in the Army...As for you considering the Army, I can tell you that I am honored to have served in the Army for 14 years and held MOS 91B (Combat Medic), 00R (Recruiter), and 19K (M1 Abrams Tank Commander) and would not trade the experience for anything in the world. I switched over to the Air Force in 2005 and am currently a Security Police Officer but if I had to do it all over again I would have definitely gone the Air Force route right off the bat. Think about it, even the Marine Corps, who happen to be the smallest of the Armed Forces, can manage to keep deployments to an average of 7 months give or take. The Air Force averages 3-4 months unless you're a cop then it's 6 months. The Army on the other hand (the largest of the Armed Forces) can't seem to do this; they serve 10-15 months, come home for 8 months maybe a year and go right back for another 10-15 months! Think it over very carefully, being a dad was what governed my decision to "cross into the blue" as they say. I gave up alot in the process, I lost rank (E-6 Staff Sergeant Promotable to E-7) but in the long run I determined that it was worth minimalizing the stress on my wife and children. Hope this helps with your dilema and I wish you the best of luck!