Enlistment oath

32 U.S.C. § 304

• Title: 32 — National Guard
• Chapter: 3 — PERSONNEL

Text

Each person enlisting in the National Guard shall sign an enlistment contract and subscribe to the following oath:
"I do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted this ____ day of ________, 19__, in the ____________ National Guard of the State of ____________ for a period of ____ year(s) under the conditions prescribed by law, unless sooner discharged by proper authority.
"I, ________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of ____________ against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to them; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of ____________ and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God."
The oath may be taken before any officer of the National Guard of the State or Territory, or of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia, as the case may be, or before any other person authorized by the law of the jurisdiction concerned to administer oaths of enlistment in the National Guard.

History

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 602; Pub. L. 87–751, §2, Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 748; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, §1234(b)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059.)

Editorial Notes

The words "or affirmation" are omitted as covered by the definition of the word "oath" in section 1 of title 1. The words "Each person" are substituted for the word "Men". The words "____________ National Guard" are substituted for the words "National Guard (Air National Guard)".

Editorial Notes

Amendments
1988—Pub. L. 100–456 struck out "the Canal Zone," after "Puerto Rico,".
1962—Pub. L. 87–751 substituted "support and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of ____________ against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to them" for "bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America and to the State of ____________: That I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever" and inserted "So help me God."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1962 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 87–751 not to effect any oath taken before one year after Oct. 5, 1962, see section 3 of Pub. L. 87–751, set out as a note under section 502 of Title 10, Armed Forces.