When you took the oath to serve were you aware of what it constitutes?

2017-08-07T14:59:38-04:00

Service to country
Volunteer
Support an Defend

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Aug 7 at 2017 3:04 PM

2017-08-07T15:04:33-04:00

Yes and without reservation.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2017 3:06 PM

2017-08-07T15:06:59-04:00

SFC Stephen King I believe in the oath today, as I did so many years ago.

(a) Enlistment Oath.— Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:
"I, (state name of enlistee), 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."

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 7 at 2017 3:08 PM

2017-08-07T15:08:31-04:00

I did but I was older than most. I didn't enlist until after finishing college and law school. It makes a difference, a big difference.

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 7 at 2017 3:12 PM

2017-08-07T15:12:38-04:00

I knew exactly what it constituted. The wording was pretty clear. Once that oath expired, I ended taking this one:
"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; 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."

Seems I can't get away from them lol

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Aug 7 at 2017 3:19 PM

2017-08-07T15:19:03-04:00

Yes.

Response by SSG Diane R. made Aug 7 at 2017 3:41 PM

2017-08-07T15:41:28-04:00

Yes, I had sworn the Oath previously as a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and in Naval ROTC in college.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2017 6:18 PM

2017-08-07T18:18:19-04:00

100% - yes!

My father was Army Air Corps, Africa, WW-II. My mother a Woman Marine, DC, WW-II. My uncle a SeaBee, pacific islands, WW-II. My grandfather, Army grunt, trenches, WW-I. Great uncle, biplane pilot, Europe (lost his arm), WW-I. And the lineage goes back to the Ethan Allen boys, Revolutionary War.

There is a much deeper meaning to the oath than most ever care to explore. In essence, I pledged everything I was, my property, wealth and life to the defense of that great idea/experiment called the Constitution. My oath was a covenant, not with the current government but with the Constitution and the Ideals it expounds on. My covenant is for the rest of my life, never to be broken.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Aug 7 at 2017 6:24 PM

2017-08-07T18:24:08-04:00

The Oath for me is a passage: My Father was a Navy for 28 yrs Service to country is my life. Now I have my Son carrying on the tradition it's hard for me to put it in words how proud I am of SPC Private RallyPoint Member