Chaplain Reserve
As a ‘friend and adviser to all’, you’ll give spiritual and moral guidance to any person serving in a fighting force.
- Undergraduate Degree
- Surface Fleet
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Officer level
Multi-faith
Extra
One year
You can start training one year after you have been ordained or qualified as a religious or belief leader
Pension
Tax-free
Travel
I’ve been able to help and support Reservists and their families, particularly those who’ve been away on deployed service abroad. It’s given me the opportunity to reach out to a completely different congregation and meet so many new people who dedicate their time to their country.
Role details
What you’ll do
The Royal Navy offers a world of unparalleled opportunities for its reservists. And this means the type of spiritual guidance and support they need is equally unique. The friendship and advice you’ll need to offer as a Reserve Chaplain will be unlike anything you’ve done in your civilian career. You’ll work in a multi-faith environment, one that can include challenging situations, and the need to guide reservists as well as their families when they’re deployed. You’ll be there for whoever needs you to be. You’ll serve the people who serve the nation.
Your role
- Act as chaplain to a unique, and very varied congregation. The spiritual and emotional support you provide will be vital to the wellbeing of personnel of all ranks and roles.
- Work in a multi-faith environment, providing advice and guidance that is very different to that needed in the civilian world.
- Develop a wide range of new skills through military training, including firefighting and first aid. You’ll need to apply these skills in operational environments, as well as on exercises.
- Travel the world, giving crucial guidance to serving personnel and their families. The work you do when mobilised will be vital to protecting our nations interests.
Pay & benefits
- Daily rates of pay equivalent to those of full-time personnel
- Broad range of developmental courses available inside and outside the Naval Service
- Receive extra pay if you are mobilised
- Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
- Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
- Automatic membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- Expenses and allowances when undergoing training
- Access to sports and fitness facilities
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- The opportunity to attend Staff College
- The opportunity to study for a PGCE or Masters degree.
Skills you'll develop
- Communication skills working with Navy personnel, from a variety of faith and belief traditions
- Gain experience working with young people
- Learn Resource Planning
- Develop your team management skills
- Work in a multi-national environment
Eligibility
- Aged 26 to 53
- You normally need to have 2-3 years post-accreditation professional experience (full-time or equivalent) and qualify as a minister of religion or belief leader. There is normally a requirement to have significant experience of working as a chaplain (or equivalent, e.g. an ordained pastoral leadership role) but as long as you can achieve this alongside your initial reservist training you may be eligible to apply to be a Probationary Reservist Chaplain straight after you have qualified.
- You will need to be currently working as an accredited chaplain or qualified religious or belief leader with one of the following faith or belief communities: Christian, Hindu, Humanist or Non-Religious, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and currently engaged with them at the point of application
- You must be a United Kingdom national, or Commonwealth citizen, or Dual National
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28
- Able to pass the Royal Naval Fitness Test (RNFT)
- Able to pass the Naval Swimming Test
- Hold a full and valid UK Driving Licence
Skills & Interests
- Proven track record of excellent people skills and ability to engage with young people
- Understanding of the rigours of Naval life
- Ability to work individually, as an autonomous practitioner, without the structure and direct support of your faith or belief community
- Physically fit and mentally resilient and ready for the challenge
- Ability to work as part of a diverse multi-faith and belief team
Joining Process
From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Virtual Presentation
Your first step is to register for a Naval Chaplaincy Virtual Presentation. You can register by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 07811 991822 to speak/message the Chaplain Recruiter. The Chaplain Recruiter will provice you with a link to the presentation and will be able to answer any initial questions or quiries you may have.
Register an interest and make an application.
This starts your online application process which is similar to that of officer applications and has to run hand-in-hand with the specialist chaplaincy selection procedure, supported by the Chaplain Recruiter. At this stage your eligibility to join will be explored.
Look at life course: Chaplaincy
If you are eligible to join you will then be invited to attend a residential 3-day acquaint visit to find out more about what chaplaincy in the Royal Navy entails.
Contact your Endorsing Authority
You will need to contact your Endorsing Authority to let them know that you intend to join the Royal Navy and to learn what their specific endorsement process will entail. The Chaplain Recruiter will assist you in identifying and contacting your endorsing authority.
Career Interview
You will be invited for an on-line Career interview to check further eligibility criteria and cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.
Medical and Fitness Assessments
This is a two-day residential assessment conducted at one of our Candidate Preparation Centres and will include a Fitness Assessment and Medical Assessment.
Chaplain of the Fleet Final Selection Board
A face-to-face selection interview takes place with the Chaplain of the Fleet and three other board memebrs, including an officer from the Admiralty Interview Board.
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place to start training at your local unit.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day