---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2004c"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2004c"
heading: "Detail as students at schools for education required for appointment as a chaplain: commissioned officers; certain enlisted members"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2004c"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part III — Training and Education"
  - "Chapter 101 — Training Generally"
---

# §2004c. Detail as students at schools for education required for appointment as a chaplain: commissioned officers; certain enlisted members

- (a) **Detail Authorized.—**
  - (1) The Secretary of each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may detail [commissioned officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) and [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) as students at accredited colleges, universities, and schools of theology, located in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1), for a period of training leading to a graduate degree that meets the educational requirements for appointment as a chaplain in the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4).
  - (2) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9), the Secretary of a military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may [fund](/usc/10/2871.md?p=6) educational expenses for [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) detailed under [paragraph (1)](#a-1). Not more than 25 [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) and [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) from each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may commence such training in any single fiscal year.
  - (3) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9), the Secretary of a military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may also detail [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) without funding any educational expenses. A [member](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) detailed pursuant to this paragraph shall not count against the limitation in [paragraph (2)](#a-2).
- (b) **Eligibility for Detail.—** To be eligible for detail under [subsection (a)](#a), an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) must be a citizen of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) and must—
  - (1)
    - (A) have served on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) for a period of not less than two years nor more than eight years and be an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in the [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) O–3 or below as of the time the training is to begin; or
    - (B) have served on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) for a period of not less than four years nor more than ten years and be an [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) in the [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) E–5 or above as of the time the training is to begin;
  - (2) in the case of an [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6), meet all requirements for acceptance of a commission as a [commissioned officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) in the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4); and
  - (3) sign an agreement that unless sooner separated the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) will—
    - (A) complete the educational course of chaplaincy training; and
    - (B) if the Secretary of the military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned carries out a program under [section 710 of this title](/usc/10/710.md)—
      - (i) agree to be inactivated for a period of time under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) of such section upon completion of a detail under this section; and
      - (ii) accept transfer or detail as a chaplain in the military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned upon completion of the period described in [clause (i)](#b-3-B-i).
- (c) **Limitation on Service Credit.—** Notwithstanding [section 533 of this title](/usc/10/533.md), a [commissioned officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who completes a detail under this section may not be credited with more than four years of constructive service under such [section 533](/usc/10/533.md) upon [original](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-10) appointment to the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) as a chaplain.
- (d) **Service Obligation.—**
  - (1) Subject to [paragraph (2)](#d-2), the agreement of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) under [subsection (b)](#b) shall provide that the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) shall serve on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) for two years for each year or part thereof of chaplaincy training completed under [subsection (a)](#a), except that such agreement may not require more than a total of six years of service on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1).
  - (2) The agreement of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) under [subsection (b)](#b) may authorize the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) to serve a portion of a service obligation on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) and to complete the service obligation that remains upon separation from [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) in the Selected [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6), in which case the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) shall serve three years in the Selected [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) for each year or part thereof of the chaplaincy training of such [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) under [subsection (a)](#a) for any service obligation that was not completed before separation from [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1), except that such agreement may not require more than a total of nine years of service in the Selected [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6).
- (e) **Selection of Officers and Enlisted Members for Detail.—** The Secretary of the military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned shall select [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) and [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) for detail for chaplaincy training under [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) on a competitive basis;
  - (2) without regard to the duration of ordination or seminary requirements for the chaplaincy training in which an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) seeks to enroll; and
  - (3) based on the needs of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.
- (f) **Relation of Service Obligations to Other Service Obligations.—** Any service obligation incurred by an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) under an agreement entered into under [subsection (b)](#b) shall be in addition to any service obligation incurred by such [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) under any other provision of law or agreement, except that the total service obligation under this section and any other provision of law or agreement shall not exceed nine years.
- (g) **Expenses.—** Expenses incident to the detail of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) and [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) under this section shall be paid from any [funds](/usc/10/2871.md?p=6) appropriated for the military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned.
- (h) **Failure to Complete Program.—** An [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) who is dropped from a program of chaplaincy training to which detailed under [subsection (a)](#a) for deficiency in conduct or studies, or for other reasons, may be required to—
  - (1) perform [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) in an appropriate military capacity in accordance with the [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) obligation imposed by regulations issued by the Secretary of Defense, except that in no case shall an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) be required to serve on [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) for any period in excess of one year for each year or part thereof he participated in the program; or
  - (2) repay the expenses incident to the detail of such [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) and paid under [subsection (f)](#f).[^1]
- (i) **Limitation on Details.—** No agreement detailing an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) or [enlisted member](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) to a chaplaincy school may be entered into during any period in which the President is authorized by law to induct persons into the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) involuntarily. Nothing in this subsection shall affect any agreement entered into during any period when the President is not authorized by law to so induct persons into the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4).
- (j) **Reports.—** Not later than March 31, 2027, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the detail of [commissioned officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-2) and [enlisted members](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-6) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) under this section during the preceding fiscal year, including—
  - (1) the number of [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) detailed under this section, disagreggated by military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and religious faith of the [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5);
  - (2) the number of [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who completed a detail under this section, disaggregated by military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and religious faith of the [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5);
  - (3) the number of [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who have completed a detail under this section and been appointed as a chaplain in the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4), disaggregated by military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and religious faith of the [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5);
  - (4) the length of detail and total cost of participation, including [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15), benefits, and educational expenses, for each [member](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) detailed under this section;
  - (5) a description of any barriers to participation in details under this section by religious faiths with lengthier or nontraditional formation requirements and any efforts by the Secretary to address any shortages of chaplains in the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) for particular religious faiths; and
  - (6) any recommendations of the Secretary for legislative or administrative changes to improve the equity, effectiveness, or fiscal management of the detail of [members](/usc/10/1408.md?p=a-5) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) under this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “subsection (g).”.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title V, § 504(b), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 855.)