Last Friday, in a video posted on the Department of War's YouTube channel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the launch of the Chaplain-In-Service Procurement Program. As reported by AL.com:
The military will fund service members who want to pursue theological training and return as military chaplains, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday.
“Today, we launch the Chaplain in Service Procurement program,” Hegseth said in a video message. “And here’s how it works: You’re on active duty and you’ve got your bachelor’s, you get to stay in uniform and earn your graduate theological degree.”
Those who participate would keep their pay, allowances and benefits, with their service branch covering tuition.
“And then we get you back as a chaplain,” he added.
Before now, he said, a service member “who felt called to the chaplaincy had only one option: take off the uniform, pay for seminary yourself, and then hope you can find and fight your way back in.”
The program was authorized last year in the Fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The section authorizing this new program was codified as 10 U.S.C. § 2004c.