Reserve Entry Scheme Officer (RESO) Program

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Reserve Entry Scheme Officer (RESO), 16 August, 2007 (PDF Version, 136.55 KB)
Reserve Entry Scheme Officer (RESO), 13 August, 2007 (DOC Version, 1,927.00 KB)

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Reserve Entry Scheme – Officers (RESO)

Acquaint candidates with the military environment and to prepare them to serve as Chaplains in the Regular or Reserve Forces. This is a two-year summer program of formation. There is no requirement of service upon completion of the program.
Give a foretaste to serve as Chaplain in the Canadian Forces.

Be a full-time student in the Master of Divinity or equivalent.
Be enrolled full-time at a Canadian post-secondary educational institute.
Be available for military employment during the summer training academic period.
Have a satisfactory academic record.

It is normally a two summer training experience. The program starts end of April to early May and runs to mid August. The dates of the summer training period are non-negotiable. The training can be conduct during the weekend.
Summer one: the training starts with a week of preparation followed by 4 weeks of Basic Officer Training Course at the Canadian Chaplain School and Centre at Borden, Ontario. This basic course is tailor-made for chaplains. Be assured that you will receive the instruction you require to prepare you for the rest of your summer. After your training, you will work on a base/wing/formation to get a general idea of what chaplaincy is like in an environment (land, air or navy).
Summer two: You will serve from early to mid May until mid August as part of a multi-faith chaplain team on a major Canadian Forces Base. You will be exposed to more detailed knowledge and practical application of chaplain ministry at the tactical level. We will try to give you a different experience and the possibility to discover the diversity of our ministry in the Canadian Forces.

As a RESO candidate, under the supervision of an experienced chaplain, you will be in a privileged position to work within a multi-faith team ministry that ministers to all Canadian Forces members and their families, regardless of rank or position. You will receive a clear idea of what it means to be responsible for the pastoral care and oversight of military personnel and to respond to their spiritual needs as required. You will learn that chaplains provide a ministry of presence, offers spiritual teaching programs and sometimes is called to say a prayer at public military ceremonies. The chaplain fosters healthy lines of communication with other spiritual leaders in the civilian community.
You will learn that the chaplain is an important member of the command team of the unit and exercises a ministry expressed through the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church. You will come to appreciate that the relationship between the chaplain and all the members of the unit can be very profound, spiritually intense and privileged. It will become abundantly clear to you that only the chaplain can achieve this special trust because he or she has privileged access to all members, has no command authority, and is prohibited from bearing arms.

The pay is calculated according to the Pay Rates of the Canadian Forces. The first summer, the candidate will receive the pay of an Officer Cadet/Naval Cadet. The second summer, he will be paid as a Second Lieutenant/Acting Sub-Lieutenant. www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/ps/cb-ras/index-eng.asp
Food and Lodging provided if you are outside of your area
Travel costs covered
Uniform provided
One week of annual leave