---
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"
date: "2026-07-12"
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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of each [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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/10/2801.md?p=c-5), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may fund educational expenses for members 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](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may commence such [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) in any single fiscal year.
  - (3) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may also detail members under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) without funding any educational expenses. A member 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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9); and
    - (B) if the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned carries out a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) 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](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [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](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) under [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) on a competitive basis;
  - (2) without regard to the duration of ordination or seminary requirements for the chaplaincy [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3).
- (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 appropriated for the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [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](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of chaplaincy [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) 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](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) capacity in accordance with the [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) obligation imposed by regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); 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](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) 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](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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 of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) detailed under this section, disagreggated by [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and religious faith of the members;
  - (2) the number of members of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) who completed a detail under this section, disaggregated by [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and religious faith of the members;
  - (3) the number of members 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](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and religious faith of the members;
  - (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 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) for legislative or administrative changes to improve the equity, effectiveness, or fiscal management of the detail of members 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.)