
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC502]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle A--General Military Law
 
                           PART II--PERSONNEL
 
                         CHAPTER 31--ENLISTMENTS
 
Sec. 502. Enlistment oath: who may administer

    Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following 
oath:
        ``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.''

This oath may be taken before any commissioned officer of any armed 
force.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 17, Sec. 501; Pub. L. 87-751, 
Sec. 1, Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 748; renumbered Sec. 502, Pub. L. 90-235, 
Sec. 2(a)(1)(A), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 753; Pub. L. 101-189, div. A, 
title VI, Sec. 653(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1462.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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---------------------------------
            Revised section                      Source (U.S. Code)            
   Source (Statutes at Large)
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501...................................  50:737.                              Ma
y 5, 1950, ch. 169, Sec.  8, 64
                                                                              S
tat. 146.
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---------------------------------

    The words ``or affirmation'' are omitted as covered by the 
definition of the word ``oath'' in section 1 of title 1. The words ``of 
any armed force'' are inserted in the last sentence, since they are 
necessarily implied by their use in the source statute.

                       References in Text

    The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in the oath, is 
classified to chapter 47 (Sec. 801 et seq.) of this title.


                               Amendments

    1989--Pub. L. 101-189 struck out ``or affirmation'' after ``This 
oath''.
    1962--Pub. L. 87-751 substituted ``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'' for 
``bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America; that I 
will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies 
whomsoever'' and inserted ``So help me God'' in the oath, and ``or 
affirmation'' in text.


                    Effective Date of 1962 Amendment

    Section 3 of Pub. L. 87-751 provided that: ``This Act [amending this 
section and section 304 of Title 32, National Guard] does not affect any 
oath taken before one year after its enactment [Oct. 5, 1962].''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 12102 of this title.
