Everyone who enters the military has to take the Oath of Enlistment or Oath of Office. Do you feel there is an expiration date to that oath?

SPC Tony Bucaro — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:02:20 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 4:02 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:02:55 -0400

Yes, when my obituary is published.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 24 at 2015 4:05 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:05:26 -0400

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 24 at 2015 4:07 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:07:33 -0400

There is no expiration, but there are parts which no longer apply, specifically:

"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."

As veteran, I no longer have to follow the orders of anyone. I am a Free Citizen of the United States, nor am I subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jul 24 at 2015 4:09 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:09:07 -0400

No. An end day wasn't in the oath.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jul 24 at 2015 4:10 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:10:18 -0400

Yes...upon ETS/EAS or the like.

Oaths aren't for life...character is.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 4:11 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:11:57 -0400

I wrote a blank check that day, up to and including my very life. I don't suspect I'll be able to get that back, nor would I want to. I'm a Sailor for life. Hoo-yah.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 24 at 2015 4:14 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:14:17 -0400

*Insert self aggrandizing patriotic slogan here*

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 24 at 2015 4:49 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:49:05 -0400

Simple question. Simple answer. No. As far as I'm concerned, it never expires.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 5:17 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 17:17:13 -0400

Sure don't remember any phrase that limited it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 7:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 19:06:39 -0400

I would say that it ends. There are times where we move on to other things. We leave the military and we can no longer fight our nations enemies as we did while we served. I have took both oaths. I know what they meant. But when you leave the service you are completed your oath. You oath is a legal document that has a completion date on it.

Now if you want to continue to serve you can but you can't soldier for you country when you are no longer in the Army. There are other ways you can serve as a veteran that are just as honorable.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Jul 24 at 2015 9:09 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 21:09:09 -0400

I never really gave the matter much thought but I'd say that while the legal obligation has expired, MY obligation to the country and Air Force will never end.

Response by SPC Thomas Baldwin made Jul 24 at 2015 9:18 PM

SPC Thomas Baldwin — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 21:18:12 -0400

I never rescinded my oath and I view it as everlasting.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 10:05 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 22:05:59 -0400

For me, it will expire when I'm 6 feet under.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 25 at 2015 6:20 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 06:20:32 -0400

NEGATIVE. I may have been released from active duty but nowhere on my DD214 does it say I am relieved of my oath.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 25 at 2015 8:07 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 08:07:17 -0400

Personally, for me there is no expiration date.

Response by CPO Jon Campbell made Jul 25 at 2015 10:11 AM

CPO Jon Campbell — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 10:11:56 -0400

Well, when you re-enlist you have to raise hand and swear again, so the government must think the original oath expires.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2015 11:13 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 11:13:21 -0400

Hi, SPC Bucaro.
I've been out since 2002. I was never relieved of my oath.

Response by SrA Jonathan Carbonaro made Jul 25 at 2015 11:42 AM

SrA Jonathan Carbonaro — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 11:42:55 -0400

I feel this is a two answer question. My Obligation to this Government ends July 6 2018, 8 years after I signed my contract. At that time I'll have 7.7 years of Active Military Service, and I'll have a few months of IRR and then I'm done.

For Veterans I don't feel the Oath expires. The Obligation to the Government is done. But the Obligation to the people doesn't. You swore to protect and defend the constitution which includes the Bill of Rights. Even if we find the act reprehensible like that lady wiping her ass with the flag. We NEED to stand up and defend her freedom to do so, or we will lose our freedoms as well.

Veterans speak from a position of respect, we need to use it to help those that are still under contract and can not speak for themselves for fear of reprisal. You can't forget the brotherhood/sisterhood that you belong to just because you left active service. If the Government wrongs veterans like closing the Memorials (in spite, and just one example) we need to stand together and remind them that their are more of us then their are them and stand for those that came before us.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 24 at 2020 9:28 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:28:23 -0500

Took the enlistment oath once and the oath of office three times as an officer and one additional time as a DAC. IMO it’s a lifetime commitment. As Lee Greenwood sings, “I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today”.

Response by SMSgt Jeff Kyle made Aug 10 at 2021 8:35 AM

SMSgt Jeff Kyle — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 08:35:28 -0400

There isn’t an expiration date on an oath.

Response by CPL Raul Perez Jr made Aug 12 at 2021 9:38 AM

CPL Raul Perez Jr — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:38:33 -0400

That depends on the person, as for me recall me if need be
Recon leads the Way.

Response by Sgt Paula Bright made Aug 12 at 2021 9:47 AM

Sgt Paula Bright — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:47:04 -0400

Response by SGT Erick Holmes made Aug 15 at 2021 12:14 PM

SGT Erick Holmes — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 12:14:32 -0400

When you receive you Honorable DD214 saying that you will defend the US on your own time if you want to. Thats the expiration date

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 4 at 2021 6:46 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 18:46:15 -0400

It's the oath of enlistment. It applies while enlisted.
The clue is in the name.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 4 at 2021 11:20 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 23:20:32 -0400

Yes at the end of your enlistment and that is why it is called an "Oath of Enlistment". I try not to translate Oaths into a religion myself, I don't feel it is healthy to do so.

Response by CPL Raul Perez Jr made Nov 5 at 2021 8:20 AM

CPL Raul Perez Jr — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 08:20:24 -0400

I believe it’s for life. If we were needed to defend our shores, I would join the fight. Would you?