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Joining The Army: A Look At The
Oath Of Enlistment
There are some oaths that
people do not take seriously;
they are merely repeated
without much meaning. When
it comes to the ultimate service
for one’s country and fellow
countrymen, the Oath of
Enlistment is not just lip
service.
Army enlistment and
federal law requires the
speaking of this Oath; it is a
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sacred institution that every independence starting in
member of the armed services 1775. The Continental
should be proud to recite and Congress established the first
honor through every action Oath that fateful summer
they take. when our democracy was
declared.
THE FIRST OATH
The enlisted men of the first
Continental Army pledged
The Oath was introduced
their service to the first
by the first patriots this country
American army and armed
ever saw, those brave souls
service ever created.
who fought for our
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 This first Oath was only for a one
year term of service, but over time nearly
every man came back for the entire
length of the struggled for independence.
One can only imagine what it must have
felt like to speak the first Oath before an
American hero such as George
Washington or Nathanael Greene and to
breathe life to our country.
TODAY’S OATH
Every person who undergoes Army
enlistment or reenlistment, including
service in the National Guard, is
required to speak the Oath before a
commissioned officer. The recruit speaks
the Oath under our nation’s flag, state
flag, and in front of his or her unit’s
guidon.
The original Oath was modified
throughout the Revolutionary war and its
aftermath and then was finalized by
constitutional amendment in 1962.
The Oath no longer specifies a
specific term of service; instead, a
recruit’s contract specifies the service
length. Yet, the Oath is higher than a
contract, it is a commitment to a nations
ideals.
Chris Harmen writes informational articles about life and careers in the US Army, the US Army Reserves
and the US Navy, providing valuable information about state of the art career training and military
jobs. Visit online to download a free career information pack.
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THE OATH
And here are those immoral words
that commit a dedicated man or woman
to serve their country:
"I, (NAME), 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; and that I will obey the orders of
the President of the United States and the
orders of the officers appointed over me,
according to regulations and the Uniform
Code of Military Justice. So help me
God."
Take special notice that the Oath is a
sworn pledge to protect the Constitution,
and not a specific person or place. This
promise is above and beyond personal
goals or ambitions; it is about the values
of an entire nation. The discipline that is
essential to the safety and effectiveness
of each individual within the military is
clearly laid out in plain language right
from the beginning. The Oath is in effect
for the entire career of a person in the
armed service.
Enjoy the honor afforded to a select
few who can rise to the occasion when
the time comes!