Oath of enlistment

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An Air Force officer administers the Oath to a group of 150 enlistees (not pictured).

The oath of enlistment into the United States military is administered by any commissioned officer to any person enlisting or re-enlisting for a term of service into any branch of the military. The officer asks the person, or persons, to raise their right hand and repeat the oath after him. The oath is traditionally performed in front of the United States flag. Other flags—such as the state flag, military branch flag, or unit guidon—may also be present.

The oath is as follows:

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.)

Note that the last sentence is not required to be said if the speaker has a personal or moral objection, as is true of all oaths administered by the United States government.

[edit] External links

• Oaths of Enlistment and Oaths of Office