New Cohort Starts:

Donate

1940 Career Guide

Navy

1940: Chaplain Candidate Program

Career transition guide for Navy Chaplain Candidate Program (1940)

Translate Your 1940 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1940 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Clergy Member (Pastor, Priest, Imam, Rabbi)

$58K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Denominational Certification

Hospital Chaplain

$65K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

Hospice Chaplain

$68K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)Hospice Experience

Nonprofit Program Manager

$62K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Grant WritingFundraisingProgram Evaluation

Ethics Counselor

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Master's Degree in Ethics or Related FieldCertification in Ethics Counseling

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1940 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a prospective chaplain, you're constantly reading the room – assessing the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and groups within a high-stress environment. You're attuned to unspoken cues and underlying tensions.

This translates directly to an ability to understand the dynamics of any social environment, anticipate needs, and navigate interpersonal relationships effectively.

Rapid Prioritization

During training and future service, you'll face numerous requests for counsel, support, and intervention, often in crisis situations. You'll need to quickly assess the urgency and importance of each situation to allocate your time and attention effectively.

This honed ability allows you to swiftly identify the most critical tasks and focus your energy where it will have the greatest impact, even under pressure.

Resource Optimization

As a chaplain, even in training, you will be entrusted with certain resources to support the spiritual and ethical well-being of personnel. You learn to allocate these resources wisely to maximize their impact and address the diverse needs of the community.

You understand how to strategically deploy limited assets to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number, a valuable skill in any organization.

Adversarial Thinking

While a chaplain's role is primarily supportive, understanding potential ethical challenges and the 'adversarial' forces that could compromise moral well-being is crucial. This includes recognizing potential conflicts of interest or unethical behavior.

You possess the ability to anticipate potential problems, identify vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to mitigate risks, ensuring ethical and responsible conduct.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Mediator

SOC 29-1199.05

You've been trained to understand diverse perspectives, de-escalate tense situations, and facilitate constructive dialogue. Your ability to read a room and address underlying needs makes you uniquely suited to help parties find common ground and resolve conflicts peacefully.

Human Resources Manager

SOC 11-3121.00

You've been developing a deep understanding of human needs and ethical considerations. Your ability to prioritize, allocate resources, and address sensitive situations translates perfectly to managing employee relations, ensuring fair practices, and fostering a positive work environment.

Nonprofit Program Director

SOC 11-9151.00

You've been learning to assess community needs, develop supportive programs, and manage resources effectively. Your skills in situational awareness, prioritization, and resource optimization make you well-equipped to lead and direct initiatives that make a real difference in people's lives.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Chaplain Candidate Program Officer Indoctrination School, Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, Newport, RI

240 training hours6 weeksUp to 4 semester hours recommended in Religious Studies or Pastoral Counseling

Topics Covered

  • Religious Pluralism and Diversity
  • Pastoral Care and Counseling
  • Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention
  • Military Ethics and Law of War
  • Navy Core Values and Ethos
  • Leadership Development
  • Worship and Ritual Support in a Military Context

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)30% covered

While this role may provide some experience in leading and guiding individuals, the CAPM exam requires formal knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), project lifecycle phases, and specific project management tools and techniques. Study the PMBOK Guide.

Recommended Next Certifications

Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)Master of Divinity (M.Div.)Pastoral Counseling Certification

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI)Microsoft 365, Cloud-based communication and data storage
Defense Travel System (DTS)Concur, Expensify (travel and expense management software)
Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS)Background Investigation software, HR background check systems
Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA)Gmail, Microsoft Exchange (email communication platform)
SharePointGoogle Workspace, Dropbox (document management and collaboration platforms)

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 1940 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free