Rising from seaman to chaplain

From a seaman to a navy officer, chaplain candidate Lt. j.g. Brian E. Myers has a blazed a path chosen by those with a calling to serve. Myers, a Navy Reserve officer, completed his chaplain candidate package and is now waiting for his approval to become a navy chaplain. As he spent part of his Navy Reserve Annual Training (AT) at Training Support Center Great Lakes (TSC) recently, Myers told sailors here of his experiences.
    Myers' first joined the Navy as a seaman recruit in June, 2007, attending recruit training and Operations Specialist "A" School at Naval Station Great Lakes.
    "It was when I was here at Great Lakes that I received the calling to be a navy chaplain and to follow the road that I have taken to get to this point in my life," Myers said. "I enjoyed being an OS and being an enlisted sailor."
    When he arrived to his first command, the USS McInerney (FFG 8), the commanding officer in finding that Myers was a pastor, asked him to be the ship's lay leader. Along with the duties of assisting sailors with school requests, this was exactly the kind of personnel support experience he wanted.
    He began his college with a study of respiratory therapy at Bowling Green State University and later, earned a bachelor's degree in biblical literature from Indiana Wesleyan University. Initially, he was going to wait until his enlistment was finished to apply for the chaplain candidate program. But with some prodding from his CO, Myers decided to push ahead with his plans to become a navy officer.
    His church Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), where he had served over six years performing ministry service, endorsed him for the chaplain program. Myers' experience as a worship, youth, and assistant pastor, along with two years of interdenominational ministry experience volunteering for a homeless shelter ministry in Indiana, plus his time as a sailor, made him a perfect candidate.
    "Although I have only served for four years in the service it has given me a perspective and understanding as to what our current sailors go through on a day-to-day basis, that will increase my effectiveness as I minister as a chaplain," commented Myers.
    Myers applied for the program and was accepted in January 2009, where he was discharged from active duty and commissioned as an lieutenant junior grade into the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) as part of the agreement that allowed him attend school full time. During this time, he attended Liberty Theological Seminary, in Lynchburg, Va., receiving his master's in christian ministries and a master of religious education degree in military chaplaincy.
    "Those pursuing this program first need to be accepted into a seminary school, and secondly, that you're not paid by the navy; only the annual training is covered," warned Myers. "Other than that, the only pay I get is from my own church. I'm married with two daughters and I know your family needs to be onboard with all this! You need to be financially set before starting."
    As part of his navy training, he performed reserve annual training; first at Officer Development School in Newport R.I., followed the next year attending the Navy Chaplaincy School at Fort Jackson, S.C. in 2010.
    Myers currently lives in Lynchburg Va., were he now serves as an ordained minister for Faith Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Although the process can take longer, he now waits for the end of the process that has taken three years, with his hopeful final selection as a navy chaplain.
    His advice to those considering following his example: "Be patient. Make sure it's a not just a job, but a calling," Myers said with a smile. "Don't become a chaplain because you think it's a comfortable job. Do it, because you're called to do it. To quote the Bible, Paul said: 'I not only want to share the Gospel; I want to share my life.'  And I want to share my life with sailors and Marines."
    Myers is very excited about his future and is extremely passionate about wanting to serving with the field with the Marines or SeaBees. "I feel I'm in very good shape," he said directly. "I was an eight time All-American in cross country and track in college. I know I can keep up with the Marines."