Overview
As a member of the military, CAF chaplains are responsible for fostering the spiritual, religious, and pastoral care of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families, regardless of religious affiliation, practice, and/or belief.
CAF chaplains have privileged access to CAF members of all ranks, have no command authority, and are prohibited from bearing arms. Their responsibilities include:
- Providing an active, personal, and supportive presence
- Officiating at special functions, service, events, and ceremonies
- Advising the Chain of Command regarding spiritual/religious accommodation issues, ethical dilemmas, as well as spiritual and moral issues pertaining to the Formation/Unit/Squadron
- Applying knowledge in general military administration and RCChS policies.
- Liaising with local area civilian Faith Tradition leaders
- Referring CAF members and their families to other helping professionals, such as social workers, psychologists, or medical personnel, as required
- Providing compassionate and caring support during, and following, significant life events and incidents
Work environment
CAF chaplains work in all military environments with members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Canadian Army (CA), the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF). CAF chaplains provide an active, personal and supportive presence, and offer spiritual and personal growth counselling, programmes, and events throughout the year. Public services and military ceremonies typically require the chaplain to participate and offer spiritual reflections. CAF chaplain can work in Canada, or may be required to go abroad during operations.
If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.
Entry plans
- Direct Entry Options
- Paid Education Options
Chaplains must be ordained or mandated by a nationally registered Faith Tradition, and have a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent), be a member in good standing with a national Faith Tradition Governing Authority, and have at least two years of fulltime, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience. They must also receive the recommendation of a representative of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC), the endorsement of the ICCMC, and be selected by the Chaplain General.
The ideal candidate already have a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) and at least two years of fulltime, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience, the CAF may place you directly into the required on-the-job training program following Basic Military Officer Qualification training.
For more information about entry plans and becoming a Chaplain, you may contact the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service:
Email: ChaplainMain-AumoneriePrincipale@forces.gc.ca
Phone: 1-866-502-2203
Regional Chaplains Contact Information: Please choose the region below to find the contact information of the regional chaplain.
Alberta and the North
Chaplain, 3rd Canadian Division
Capt Bryan Bowley
Email: Bryan.Bowley@forces.gc.ca
Edmonton 780-973-4011 x8141
Manitoba and Saskatchewan
1 Canadian Air Division Chaplain
Maj Henry Hoy
Email: Henry.Hoy@forces.gc.ca
Winnipeg 204-833-2500 x2267
Ontario
Chaplain, 4th Canadian Division
Capt Adnan Balihodzic
Email: Adnan.Balihodzic@forces.gc.ca
Toronto 416-633-6200 x5314
Quebec
Chaplain, 2nd Canadian Division
Capt Dany Perreault
Email: qg2divcafoieaumonier@forces.gc.ca
Montréal 514-252-2777 x4032
Maritimes
Chaplain, 5th Canadian Division
Lt(N) Stephen Cogswell
Email: Stephen.Cogswell@forces.gc.ca
Halifax 902-427-7849
British Colombia
Chaplain, Joint Task Force Pacific
Lt(N) Peter Han
Email: Peter.Han@forces.gc.ca
Esquimalt 250-363-4180
If you wish to become a Chaplain for the CAF, you can apply for the Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters (SEELM) programme.
If you have an undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognized Canadian university, and meet the required entry criteria, you may qualify to apply for the highly competitive Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters (SEELM) entry option. If accepted, you will be enrolled in the CAF as an officer as you complete a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) program at a Canadian university, and complete the required two years of post-credential, fulltime, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience.
Successful applicants will receive a salary, medical and dental care, and paid annual vacation. In exchange, you must work for the CAF for a specified period of time. To apply, you must have been accepted without condition to a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) at a Canadian university in a program recognized by the ICCMC and the CAF.
For more information about entry plans and becoming a Chaplain, you may contact the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service:
Email: ChaplainMain-AumoneriePrincipale@forces.gc.ca
Phone: 1-866-502-2203
Regional Chaplains Contact Information: Please choose the region below to find the contact information of the regional chaplain.
Alberta and the North
Chaplain, 3rd Canadian Division
Capt Bryan Bowley
Email: Bryan.Bowley@forces.gc.ca
Edmonton 780-973-4011 x8141
Manitoba and Saskatchewan
1 Canadian Air Division Chaplain
Maj Henry Hoy
Email: Henry.Hoy@forces.gc.ca
Winnipeg 204-833-2500 x2267
Ontario
Chaplain, 4th Canadian Division
Capt Adnan Balihodzic
Email: Adnan.Balihodzic@forces.gc.ca
Toronto 416-633-6200 x5314
Quebec
Chaplain, 2nd Canadian Division
Capt Dany Perreault
Email: qg2divcafoieaumonier@forces.gc.ca
Montréal 514-252-2777 x4032
Maritimes
Chaplain, 5th Canadian Division
Lt(N) Stephen Cogswell
Email: Stephen.Cogswell@forces.gc.ca
Halifax 902-427-7849
British Colombia
Chaplain, Joint Task Force Pacific
Lt(N) Peter Han
Email: Peter.Han@forces.gc.ca
Esquimalt 250-363-4180
Training
After being posted, you will prepare for basic training by completing the 12 week intensive Basic Military Officer Qualification training programme at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the CAF, basic weapons safe handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic Military Officer Qualification training is provided in English or French, and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.
Following the successful completion of Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ), chaplains will spend the next 12-18 months engaged in various online and in-person professional development courses. Courses include: Basic Occupation Qualification (BOQ), Intermediate Ethics, Chaplain Counselling Skills, Chaplain in Deployed Operations, Canadian Armed Forces Junior Officer Development (CAFJOD) programme, as well as any element-specific training requirements.
Part time options
This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time at Reserve Unit in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they may volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.
CAF chaplains work in all military environments with members of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. CAF chaplains provide an active, personal and supportive presence, and offer spiritual and personal growth counselling, programmes, and events to all members of the CAF, regardless of religious affiliation. Public services and military ceremonies typically require the chaplain to participate and offer spiritual reflections. When employed on a part-time or casual fulltime basis CAF chaplains usually serve at CAF bases, wings, home ports, and reserve units located in Canada.
Find a Recruiting Centre
Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. They usually begin training with their home unit to ensure that they meet the required basic professional military standards. Basic training consists of two required components: Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) training and Basic Occupational Qualification (BOQ) training. Additional courses may be available over the course of a Chaplain’s career.
Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit on scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in fulltime positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 92.8 percent of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a competitive benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.
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