Officers: Continental Congress passed two versions of this oath of office, applied to military and civilian national officers. 'I _ swear (or affirm as the case may be) to be trued to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies opposers whatsoever and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress, and the orders of the Generals and officers set over me by them.' The original wording was effectively replaced by Section 3, Article 1, of the Articles of War approved by Congress on 20 September 1776, which specified that the oath of enlistment read: (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)ĭuring the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress established different oaths for the enlisted men and officers of the Continental Army:Įnlisted: The first oath, voted on 14 June 1775 as part of the act creating the Continental Army, read: 'I _ have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army.' 'I, _ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _ 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 upon which I am about to enter So help me God.' (Title 10, US Code Act of replacing the wording firstĪdopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962). United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me,Īccording to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The same and that I will obey the orders of the President of the 'I, _, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support andĭefend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,įoreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to The wordings of the current oath of enlistment and oath for

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