The first, on 21 October 1776, read: "I _, do acknowledge the Thirteen United States of America, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, independent, and sovereign states, and declare, that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the third, king of Great Britain and I renounce, refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him and I do swear that I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain, and defend the said United States against the said king, George the third, and his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents and will serve the said United States in the office of _, which I now hold, and in any other office which I may hereafter hold by their appointment, or under their authority, with fidelity and honour, and according to the best of my skill and understanding. Officers: Continental Congress passed two versions of this oath of office, applied to military and civilian national officers. "I _ swear (or affirm as the case may be) to be trued to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies opposers whatsoever and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress, and the orders of the Generals and officers set over me by them." The original wording was effectively replaced by Section 3, Article 1, of the Articles of War approved by Congress on 20 September 1776, which specified that the oath of enlistment read: (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)ĭuring the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army:Įnlisted: The first oath, voted on 14 June 1775 as part of the act creating the Continental Army, read: "I _ have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army." "I, _ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter So help me God." (Title 10, US Code Act of replacing the wording firstĪdopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962). United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me,Īccording to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The same and that I will obey the orders of the President of the "I, _, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support andĭefend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,įoreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Importantly, it serves as the social glue that binds together American service members who hold diverse personal and political beliefs.The wordings of the current oath of enlistment and oath for In the face of conflicting desires and political sentiments, the oath guides our actions. Its words gave me purpose before conducting nighttime raids in downtown Fallujah, despite my staunch opposition to the war. before grueling 16-hour workdays training recruits for combat, despite my fatigue. When I served in the Army, this oath gave me meaning at 3:00 a.m. The oath to the Constitution aligns loyalty and duty to the document that unites our nation. They give service members purpose as being part of something greater than themselves. Regardless of political affiliation, service members swear an oath to the Constitution - not to a person, politician or office.Įach service member’s oath of enlistment or office begins with swearing to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” These words give meaning to soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen. The way loyalty and duty are fused into the nature of military service should comfort Americans. Army drill sergeant, I was once charged with transforming civilians into soldiers.
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