an informal poll

[shooter93]

A post by LoveLife about re-enlisting got me to thinking about something I've asked local vets here for awhile about the oath......When I served and was sworn in the oath was the same except for following the orders of the President. WW2 vets I asked simply couldn't remember and Korean and Vietnam vets were split....some saying it was in their oath and others it wasn't.
So I've always wondered....was it added at one point?, did it vary between posts? or did the grizzled old vet who swore us in just eliminate on his own? and was it in your oath or not? Thanks for the input.

[462]

I enlisted in '67 and don't remember.

[troy_mclure]

i enlisted in 98 and re-upped in 02, and enlisted in the reserves in 05.

it was in all the oaths.

[fatnhappy]

I'm fairly confident the last change to the oath occured during the Lincoln administration.

[Guesser]

The last change, so I've been told came about in 1948 when the Uniform Code of Military Justice was adopted for all the military branches. Until that time the Navy had used a set of regulations commonly referred to as "Rocks and Shoals". The old regs included and directed flogging, etc. These were eliminated by the UCMJ. I enlisted in 1963, 69, 75, 81, 85. As I remember, the only thing that changed was the Officer administering and the location. The phrase "President and all officers appointed over me" was in all of my oaths.

[Ajax]

I enlisted in 1992. re-enlisted in 1996,2000,2004and 2008 and it was the same everytime i recited the oath.


Andy

[Rick Hodges]

It was there in 1971. US Army.

[ktw]

There are actually two slightly different oaths, one for officers and another for enlisted.

The "that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me" part is in the enlisted oath but not the commissioned officer's oath. That part appears to have been dropped from the officer's oath around 1862.

http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/oaths.html

-ktw

[Guesser]

Keep in mind that the different services governed and regulated independently of each other until the Dept Of Defense was designated and formed after WW II. The Army Air Corp became the USAF and all pay and regulations became standardized with the USCG included in the rules and regulations. Until that time each service was self governing to a large degree from an internal stand point. President Truman, in 1948, put it all together and signed it into law.

[jpatm2]

The only thing they have aske me at any of my enlistments/ reinlistments is if I wanted to say "so help me God" or not. I have opted to do so every time.

[edsmith]

itwas there in 57 army

[Mk42gunner]

The only thing they have aske me at any of my enlistments/ reinlistments is if I wanted to say "so help me God" or not. I have opted to do so every time.

You know, I don't ever remember hearing anybody using the "affirm" option, and I was at a lot of reenlistments during my 20 years in the Navy.

One more thing, ALL of my reenlisting officers were Mustangs.

Robert

[bearcove]

I enlisted in 1982 but don't remember what they read to us. Probably hasn't changed much.

[Bad Water Bill]

I enlisted in1956 but now I can not remember being sworn in. On the other hand I have to check my wallet to find out what my name is. :bigsmyl2:

[crazy mark]

In 1969 I remember the part about the president and officers. I was a 17 year old and scared half out of my wits. I just knew I was goint to be fed to the sharks. Good old USCG.

[eveready]

Don't remember the oath, only remember taking one step forward, one guy wouldn't. Army 1962

[hiram1]

I, danny ., do solemnly swear 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.

[Alvarez Kelly]

I, danny ., do solemnly swear 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.

Yep. 1981, 1987, 1991, 1997...

[shooter93]

This has been interesting....it must have been localized for some reason because I have run into a number of people who distinctly remember the ommission of the president clause.

[captaint]

I was drafted in 69. The above sounds right to me. I have to wonder how Obummer feels about supporting and defending the Constitution, as it is, that is.... enjoy MIke