How Has the Oath of Enlistment/Oath of Office Changed Your Life?

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 19:53:57 -0500

Simply it set the definition of DUTY HONOR COUNTRY and made me a grateful Patriotic American for the rest of my life. I truly have a meaning of the constitution after serving.

The wordings of the current oath of enlistment and oath for commissioned officers are as follows:

"I, _____, 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." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

"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." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 7:57 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 19:57:16 -0500

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL It didn't. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the national anthem, saluting the flag were always a part of my life. The Oath of Enlistment and Oath of Office are both an extension of that which was already present internally and externally in my life.

I don't know how to explain it other than to say they all have significant importance to me. I think about the words, each word and the significance of what it means, of the men and women who gave their lives, of the true patriots who gave their lives, property, and sometimes families for the cause of building or retaining this great nation that we live in. What selflessness they had, all that many of us do pales in comparison to those sacrifices. It keeps me humble and gives me humility.

Response by CPT Chris Newport made Feb 27 at 2016 9:20 PM

CPT Chris Newport — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 21:20:25 -0500

The guiding light of my life as an American and a citizen, binding for life.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2016 11:36 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 23:36:51 -0500

I was patriotic before I joined, so the oath was just verbally stating what I already knew in my heart. I felt it was my duty as an American to serve my country, and still feel that way.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 28 at 2016 1:12 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 01:12:48 -0500

Yes SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL swearing the Oath of Enlistment/Oath of Office has changed my life each time I went through the ceremony. I swore of teh oath of enlistment twice, the oath of office as an officer in the US army twice and I swore in many soldiers who were reenlisting over the decades.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Nov 29 at 2017 5:10 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:10:02 -0500

While i was in, there was some talk going on about allegiance and to follow orders
and they wanted us to sign a declaration ..
I said I don’t need nor have to do that to the Orderly room clerk.. are you refusing?
When I took the oath as stated in that document of enlistment on our Orderly room wall.. that there is my allegiance to faithfully serve under those appointed over me. I also took that when I became an NCO.. whoever come up with this loyalty oath .. doesn’t know what is going on.. everybody took it when they joined..
And resigned for another period of time(whichever that may be). “Well we got to check with JAG on this.” What’s to check ? Now slowly.... read that oath on the wall.. what does it say? (They read aloud the oath) That is correct ! So tell me again; why do I need to sign some loyalty oath . and then the Commander comes in while I’m giving the lecture of
Code of enlistment 101 to our Orderly
Room clerkand a few others that had gathered.. we finished it up and I said that concludes the lecture on Oath of enlistment 101, thank you for coming and being a part of this .. The Orderly room clerk started to explain it but the Cmdr said he figured out what was going on when he walked in.. He said he agreed
With my comment on the oath sufficing.
we had s scheduled Cmdr’s call in the next few days and he would make mention about the oath of enlistment we all signed
and we didn’t need to sign that loyalty oath..

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Nov 29 at 2017 5:19 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:19:35 -0500

I was nosing around a few minutes ago and found this; it’s not an oath but a charge...

Response by SPC Carlton Phelps made Aug 12 at 2021 8:49 AM

SPC Carlton Phelps — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 08:49:41 -0400

Well, I guess it has me learn the Constitution and follow it. I demand that all elected officials defend the Constitution as I do. So I'm more politically active.

Response by PO3 Randy Clark made Aug 13 at 2021 9:56 AM

PO3 Randy Clark — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:56:16 -0400

I grew up

Response by PO3 Randy Clark made Aug 13 at 2021 9:56 AM

PO3 Randy Clark — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:56:55 -0400

Still is

Response by SPC Kevin McMurtury made Aug 13 at 2021 10:38 AM

SPC Kevin McMurtury — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 10:38:57 -0400

I've lived by it every since swearing in

Response by PFC David Foster made Oct 10 at 2021 9:58 AM

PFC David Foster — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 09:58:45 -0400

It made me think about and take responsibility and become a man. It also gave me a deep sense of pride.