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ArmyService SupportRank #98 of 101 by 4-year cost
56M

Chaplain Assistant

10-week pipeline · BCT + AIT · Fort Jackson, SC
Training Pipeline
$22K
10 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$2K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$284K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$22K8%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K89%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$8K3%
Training: 8% · MILPERS: 89% · Equipment: 3%= $284K
By the Numbers

Chaplain Assistants support the mental, spiritual, and moral welfare of entire units under fire — one of the few roles explicitly focused on the human cost of war rather than its conduct.

Training Pipeline
Duration
10 weeks
Type
BCT + AIT
Location
Fort Jackson, SC
Pipeline Cost
$22K

Chaplain Assistants are the only Army MOS required to provide armed protection for a non-combatant (the Chaplain, who carries no weapon). They are simultaneously religious support facilitators and personal security details.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Assigned Equipment
  • ·M17 Pistol
  • ·M4A1 Carbine
  • ·Religious Support Office Equipment
  • ·Mobility Equipment
Annual Equipment Burden
$2K/yr
Personal gear + religious support materials amortized
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~600
Avg Career Length6 years
Annual Training Bill$13.2M
Total Force 4yr Cost$170.1M
Other Army Profiles

Cost estimates derived from DoD Comptroller per-soldier analysis, RAND Corporation military personnel studies, CBO military compensation reports, service-specific training cost testimony, and published equipment unit costs. Error margin ±15%. Individual costs vary by duty station, assignment, and deployment tempo. This is Phase 3 of the Honest MOS DoD Budget Intelligence Roadmap.