Most Army chaplains can point to the moment they first considered serving in uniform. For Chaplain (Capt.) Scott Klein, a battalion chaplain with the 82nd Airborne Division, it began with a conversation that made the calling tangible. “I didn’t get here on my own,” he reflects. “A chaplain took the time to explain what Army ministry really meant. He showed me what it looks like to stand with Soldiers in the hardest moments. That conversation set the course for my life.”
That formative experience illustrates why the Every Chaplain a Recruiter initiative exists. Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) William (Bill) Green Jr., the Army Chief of Chaplains, recently addressed the Corps with a message that captures the essence of this mission:
“I want to thank you for answering the call and challenge you to help us recruit the next generation of our Army Chaplain Corps. I want to challenge every Chaplain Corps member to tell their Army story and generate at least one qualified recruiting lead for our Army.”
For Klein, ECAR is both personal and patriotic. The chaplain who first reached him not only inspired him to serve Soldiers in uniform but also instilled the understanding that ministry and love of Country are inseparable. “If I believe this calling is worth giving my life to, then I have to be willing to talk about it,” Klein says. “Our Soldiers deserve chaplains who are prepared and committed. That does not happen unless we take responsibility for who comes next.”
Klein emphasizes that chaplains are in a unique position to recruit, often reaching people in ways traditional recruiters cannot. “Our role as chaplains, but also as faith leaders in our respective denominations, allows us to enter those spaces where the traditional recruiters might not have the same vocabulary and language. We use our networks to really skip some of the first several hours of conversation that a recruiter might ordinarily have to go through,” he says. This insight underscores how chaplains can cultivate future leaders for the Army while sustaining its moral and spiritual strength.
As a chaplain, Klein’s duties center on standing with Soldiers and leaders in every circumstance, guiding their growth, and sustaining their commitment to the Army. He has counseled dozens of Soldiers navigating personal challenges, strengthened unit cohesion, and maintained morale during high-tempo training cycles. During one such period, he initiated a weekly field Bible study that grew from a handful of participants to a consistent group of more than twenty Soldiers. “The Chaplain Corps embraces the idea that the most powerful impact that our leaders can have is by being leaders, by sharing our story in every venue possible,” Klein explains. “I have spoken at multiple local clergy gatherings about military ministry, resulting in prospective candidates requesting information about serving in uniform.”
Chaplain (Col.) Deborah A. Brown, chief of Army chaplain recruiting and accessions, notes that Klein’s efforts demonstrate how a chaplain can influence the Army at both operational and strategic levels while remaining focused on daily ministry to Soldiers.
“Chaplain Klein has a very bright future ahead. He has managed to have an Army-wide strategic impact while continuing to excel in his daily performance at the operational level. This level of achievement is only possible with a supportive command climate, and I am grateful for the leadership of his command team and the support they have provided that allowed him to accomplish this.”
The impact of his work is felt in moments both small and profound. In one instance, a junior Soldier approached him after a formation prayer to discuss personal struggles. Through continued counseling, the Soldier emerged stronger and more committed to the Army. “You never know which conversation will matter most,” Klein reflects. “Sometimes it is five minutes after a training event. Sometimes it is weeks of walking with someone through something heavy. That is what this ministry is.”
Klein’s reach extends beyond individual Soldiers. He maintains friendships and collaborates with chaplains of other faiths, demonstrating that Army chaplaincy is a backbone of the force and transcends denomination. By mentoring Soldiers, supporting leaders, and engaging with local clergy, he strengthens both operational readiness and the Army’s moral foundation. “Leadership has provided me with time and resources for me to engage in outreach without compromising my primary mission of caring for my paratroopers. It turns into a force multiplier when the command prioritizes recruiting,” he says. The results are tangible: Soldiers strengthened in their commitment, consistent participation in Bible study, and multiple prospective chaplains inspired to serve in uniform.
Every conversation chaplains have, every engagement they pursue, is an opportunity to sustain the Army’s spiritual and moral strength. ECAR invites chaplains to step into that role, to reach potential future chaplains at denominational conferences, seminary alumni events, and community gatherings. It is a patriotic commitment that ensures that when the next generation of Soldiers steps forward, a chaplain will be there to guide and strengthen them.
Somewhere, there is a pastor who loves this Country and has never considered uniformed service. Somewhere, there is a seminarian called to care for Soldiers. ECAR is that invitation. And as Chaplain Klein’s story shows, one conversation can echo across a career, across a unit, and across the Army itself.
Will you be the one who starts that inspiring conversation?
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