Specialty Branch
ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT (AMEDD)
As a medical professional, you will ensure that Soldiers receive the best healthcare possible on and off the battlefield. You’ll enjoy extra benefits, too. The Guard offers a significant bonus and loan repayment for certain specialties within the medical field.
Healthcare Officer
As a physician, dentist, nurse, nurse practitioner or medical student, provide care to Soldiers and civilians alike during emergencies.
Medical Corps
This group of medical specialties includes administration, behavioral health sciences, environmental sciences, and medical evacuation aviation.
Physician Assistant (PA-C) and Physical Therapist (PT)
Work closely with Guard physicians and primary medical officers of your state command, infantry or other combat units.
AMEDD BENEFITS
- Low-cost medical and dental care for you and your family (TRICARE Reserve Select)
- Low-cost life insurance up to $400,000
- Discounted and tax-free grocery and shopping privileges at post exchanges and commissaries
- Free military air flights based on space availability
- Up to $2,500 for continuing education a year
- Access to recreational facilities on military installations
- A retirement pension plan at the completion of 20 years of part-time service
AMEDD REQUIREMENTS
- Meet the prescribed medical and moral standards for appointment as a commissioned officer
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have completed an accredited qualifying degree program within the United States, US Territories or The District of Columbia
- Must be at least 21 years of age or older
- Be able to obtain a Secret security clearance
- Complete Direct Commissioning Course (DCC) at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma and Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) located in San Antonio, Texas
CAREER OPTIONS
Medical Corps (MD and DO)
Providing a wide range of healthcare to Soldiers at home and during combat and covering medical specialties such as internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and many more.
Dental Corps
Ensure that each Soldier is in optimal oral health in preparation for deployment and assist in the emergency medical management of combat and noncombat casualties.
Specialist Corps
Treat and support the overall health of Soldiers and their families as Physician Assistants (PA-Cs) and Physical Therapists (PTs).
Medical Service Corps
Help the Guard’s medical services run smoothly in administrative and engineering functions such as aeromedical evacuation pilots, human resources and more.
Nurse Corps
Nurse officers provide professional nursing care, services, and health promotion in military health treatment organizations as Registered Nurses or Family Nurse Practitioners.
Behavioral Health Officers
Plan, direct, and administer programs and services relating to clinical psychology and social work, and promote all aspects of mental health and the social well-being of Soldiers.
Students
Medical and dental students can serve as a Healthcare Student Officer while attending medical or dental school. Healthcare Student Officers are placed in non deployable positions and are eligible for financial assistance programs.
JAG
PROTECT, ADVISE AND DEFEND
Whether you are a practicing attorney or newly BAR certified there are significant benefits to becoming a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer. JAG Officers act as a legal resource for Soldiers, units, and the State Adjutant General. They investigate, prosecute, and defend those charged with crimes in the military, help Soldiers with legal documents, and train legal professionals both in the US and abroad. JAG Corps practices law in the same area as civilian law which helps transition back to a civilian legal career.
JAG OFFICER BENEFITS
As part of the JAG Corps, you’ll begin your service as an officer, earning monthly officer drill pay. The Guard also provides unparalleled benefits for a part-time commitment, including:
- Low-cost medical and dental care benefits
- Low-cost health insurance for you and your family
- Low Cost Life Insurance up to $400,000
- A retirement pension plan at the completion of 20 years of part time service
- Discounted and tax free grocery and shopping privileges at post exchanges and commissaries
- Free military air flights based on space availability
- Access to recreational facilities on military installations
JAG ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
In order to become a JAG officer, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Graduate from an ABA-approved law school
- Be admitted to the bar and serve in the National Guard of the same state
- Be mentally and physically fit
- Be of good moral standing and character
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Meet Military medical and moral standards for appointment
- Be able to obtain a Secret security clearance
JAG OFFICER TRAINING
All Judge Advocates must successfully complete the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course (JAOBC). This course is broken into two phases, which must be completed consecutively unless otherwise waived or bifurcated by the Army Chief, Personnel, Plans, and Training Office (PPTO). Exceptions to these training requirements may be granted by the Chief, PPTO but are rarely granted.
Direct Commission Course (DCC): The 6 week direct commission course at fort Benning Georgia provides judge advocates with Soldier and leadership training. Judge Advocates participate in physical training, ruck marches, combat water survival skills training, marksmanship training, land navigation, and obstacle courses. Judge Advocates leave DCC as confident and competent members of the profession of arms.
Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course (JAOBC): The ten-and-one half week Judge Advocate General Basic Course is held at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (TJAGLCS in Charlottes, Virginia. Through Classroom instruction and practical exercises, new Judge Advocates learn about substantive area of law in addition to learning about the JAG Corps’ organization, function, and mission. New Judge Advocates leave JAOBC fully certified to practice military law.
CHAPLAIN
Serving as a Guard chaplain is an intense yet profoundly rewarding experience. You will care for the spiritual well-being of Soldiers, ministering to their needs and helping them meet challenges in areas like religion, morals, and morale. Chaplains will minister according to their own faith tradition in alignment with their ecclesiastical endorser.
Chaplains are non-combatants and do not carry a weapon. As a Guard chaplain, you’ll lead a Unit Ministry Team (UMT), which consists of you and a trained Religious Affairs Specialist (an enlisted Soldier trained to support chaplains during their missions and everyday activities).
If you’re already an ordained minister, you can earn your commission and begin your ministry to Guard Soldiers as soon as you complete the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CH-BOLC).
Guard chaplains receive excellent pay as well as a number of additional incentives. SUCH AS?
CHAPLAIN DUTIES
- Officiating at worship services, funerals, memorials, and other military functions
- Overseeing religious ministries, including workshops, counseling, religious education, and special events
CHAPLAIN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Possess a Bachelor’s degree (not less than 120 semester hours)
- Possess an accredited Master’s degree of not less than 72 semester hours (36 semester hours must be in Theology)
- Obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your denomination or faith group.
a. The chaplain is an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body.
b. The denomination approves of the chaplain serving as a military chaplain.
c. Are qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally.
d. Are sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel and their family members. - Are less than 47 years of age.*
- Be mentally and physically fit
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Be able to obtain a Secret security clearance
*Age waivers for applicants at or above the maximum age are considered on a case-by-case basis.
TRAINING FOR CHAPLAINS AND CHAPLAIN CANDIDATES
When you join the Guard as a chaplain, you’ll be a commissioned officer. If you join prior to completing your Master’s degree, you will enter as a chaplain candidate. In either case, you’ll attend the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CH-BOLC), where you’ll learn fundamental military tasks and how to perform religious duties in a military environment.
The CH-BOLC consists of three segments:
Chaplain Initial Military Training
A four-week resident course focused on core noncombatant skills such as map reading, military customs and courtesies, operations in field conditions, and combat survival.
Phase I
A two-week course on Army writing and correspondence.
Phases II and III
Two three-week courses on Army-specific chaplain duties and applying civilian skills to the National Guard environment.
What is an ecclesiastical endorsement?
What is an ecclesiastical endorsement?
Each denomination or endorsing body that is recognized by the Department of Defense provides endorsement for chaplains. This endorsement is one of the most important items for any chaplain or chaplain candidate to secure before you can be considered for service in the chaplaincy.
For chaplains
The ecclesiastical endorsement states that:
- You are an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body
- You have completed a certain number of years of ministry experience
- The denomination approves of your serving as a military chaplain
For chaplain candidates
the ecclesiastical approval is simply a certification** that:
- You are pursuing the fulfillment of the requirements for chaplaincy
- You are recognized as a member in good standing of the denomination or body
Without approval, you will not be commissioned or appointed to the chaplain candidate program.
Requirements vary, but most religious denominations will require that you:
- Possess a Bachelor’s degree (not less than 120 semester hours)
- Are a full-time student working toward a graduate degree in Theology consisting of 72 semester hours or more
- Obtain a federally recognized ecclesiastical endorsement from your denomination or faith group certify that:
The chaplain is an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body.
b. The denomination approves of the chaplain serving as a military chaplain.
c. Are qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally.
d. Are sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel and their family members. - Are less than 37 years of age*
- Meet the prescribed medical and moral standards for appointment as a commissioned officer
- Must be a U.S. citizen only
- Be able to obtain a secret security clearance
*Age waivers for applicants at or above the maximum age are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please check with your specific denomination’s endorsing body for details.
After meeting with your endorser and completing all the denominational requirements for ecclesiastical approval, the endorser will submit the approval to the Chief of Chaplains’ office. Your recruiter will not submit your packet for the chaplain candidate appointment board without your ecclesiastical approval being on the record.
It is also recommended that you request a certified copy for your personal records. Your chaplain recruiter may also request that a copy be submitted directly to them.
Contact the Specialty Branch Recruiter
If you are interested in learning more, please contact the Specialty Branch Recruiter:
CPT Jordan Bennett
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