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Step 8: Raise your right hand
Swearing In: The Oath of Enlistment and the Oath of Office
Every servicemember must swear the enlistment or officer Oath. For enlistees, this will be the final thing you do at MEPS - afterwards you will go home (if you're in DEP) or return to your hotel / residence (if you are to ship out).
Your Oath is something that every servicemember must promise and adhere to for his/her entire military career. From the Oath, you can see that you will be defending the Constitution - not a person. Discipline and accepting orders is sworn to. Finally, you vow to face the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) should any disputes arise.
For enlistees, after you have gone through the entire MEPS process and have had a final interview and fingerprints done, you will swear the Oath of Enlistment. For officers, you will swear your Oath of Office at another time (???). From here you are on your way to DEP or basic training - congratulations!
The Oath of Enlistment (for enlistees):
"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."
The Oath of Office (for officers):
"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 or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance tot he same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations 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."
