Is it required to say 'So Help Me God' during the Oath of Enlistment?

2020-10-15T14:15:15-04:00

I'm curious because I know back in 2014, the Air Force changed the policy to allow the above statement to be omitted from the Oath. If a non-religious SM or non-christian SM wants to enlist or reenlist, but doesn't want to say that part, is this allowed? PFC Private RallyPoint Member SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" LTC Stephen F. CPL Dave Hoover SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Private RallyPoint Member Capt Dwayne Conyers CPT Jack Durish MSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 2:16 PM

2020-10-15T14:16:30-04:00

I swear = so help me god, I affirm = so help me.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 2:35 PM

2020-10-15T14:35:00-04:00

It wasn't for my 20 years in the Army

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 15 at 2020 3:08 PM

2020-10-15T15:08:52-04:00

Nope! All about persona choice.

A good reenlistmemt officer will take a few seconds to chat about it before the ceremony.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 6:36 PM

2020-10-15T18:36:58-04:00

Here are some regs that i think will help out.

AR 601-280 “The Army Retention Program,” Appendix D Paragraph 2k, which states specifically that the reenlisting soldier need not swear to god. Or to USC 512 Title 28 (Revision June 25, 1948 ch. 646, 62 Stat. 925) which clarifies that an oath of affirmation excludes the “so help me god” portion.

AFI 36-2606 (Ch.3, 2. “Detailed Instructions for Completing the DD Forms 4/1 and 4/2”, Table 3.9, Item Number 15 – Confirmation of (Re)enlistment Oath)

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2020 8:19 PM

2020-10-15T20:19:18-04:00

Not required. Optional

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 15 at 2020 10:19 PM

2020-10-15T22:19:47-04:00

Thank you my friend SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member for posting. 'So Help Me God' is the last statement in the current U.S. Army enlistment oath. The enlistment oath did not change in U.S. Code no matter what USAF official policy was or is.

Some groups can't swear per their beliefs [they say affirm] while others don't acknowledge any God. They no doubt leave off the last sentence. I don't know if they are authorized to line through the last sentence on their oath of enlistment.

I looed at my enlistment contract from November 1974 and the wording is essentially the same as it was then.

I just checked the current oath for the U.S. Army
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).
https://www.army.mil/values/oath.html

FYI LTC Private RallyPoint Member SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SFC Private RallyPoint Member MSG Private RallyPoint Member TSgt Joe C. Maj Marty Hogan

Oath of Enlistment - Army Values

The following is the Oath of Commissioned Officers

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2020 6:15 AM

2020-10-16T06:15:16-04:00

It is not.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 16 at 2020 1:03 PM

2020-10-16T13:03:00-04:00

Yes. When you "affirm" instead of "swear" you are acknowledging that you are not "swearing to God." If you state, "I, Cody Voye, do solemnly affirm..." Then the Officer is supposed to just omit that last phrase. Very few Officers administerring the oath catch this, though, so it is best to chat with them before hand.
I, personally, am Christian, but not religious, and for one of my re-ups I had made the conscious decision to leave God out of it, but did NOT follow my own advice. I "affirmed" and the Officer went right ahead with "so help me God." I could have remained silent and stared at him awkwardly, or just went ahead with it. Since I *do* believe in God, I went ahead. But for someone who has a serious objection, it just makes it uncomdortable for everyone.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2020 1:52 PM

2020-10-16T13:52:41-04:00

No just so help me

Response by SGM Gerald Fife made Oct 16 at 2020 4:12 PM

2020-10-16T16:12:28-04:00

An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, 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 on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” This section does not affect other oaths required by law.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 424.)

5 U.S. Code § 3331.Oath of office

I see no where in this law that says you drop, So help me God.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Oct 16 at 2020 4:35 PM

2020-10-16T16:35:12-04:00

The term GOD is not unique to Christian religions.

Response by LCpl Steve Zupan made Oct 16 at 2020 11:45 PM

2020-10-16T23:45:38-04:00

If you can't say, "so help me God" and support Old Glory.. keep your ass home and join ISIS...FFS

Response by LCpl Sidney Green made Feb 10 at 2021 8:57 PM

2021-02-10T20:57:20-05:00

The U.S. is predominately Christian, so "so help me God" is most common. Essentially with the retribution of God. Even so, swearing an oath crosses many faiths and religions. To swear an oath is to make a solemn promise that you are committed to perform some duty or act. Your commitment to a deity or higher authority makes the oath meaningful. In times past people swore their oath to the king or some sacred item, location, or god. Other swore on their life, or the lives of their family.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Feb 11 at 2021 3:35 AM

2021-02-11T03:35:42-05:00

It's been longstanding practice in this country for Oaths to accomodate folks that do not like the swearing to God part, in fact some religions prohibit that. Congress provides an alternative oath and so does the Judiciary, I would be really surprised if DoD did not do the same.

Response by PO3 Randy Clark made Aug 13 at 2021 9:54 AM

2021-08-13T09:54:20-04:00

Agree