Title 32National GuardRelease 119-73

§312 Appointment oath

Title 32 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - PERSONNEL › § 312

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone appointed as a National Guard officer must take an oath. They promise to protect the U.S. and their state's constitutions, be loyal, obey orders from the President and Governor, make the pledge willingly, faithfully perform their Guard duties, and may swear or affirm.

Full Legal Text

Title 32, §312

National Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Each person who is appointed as an officer of the National Guard shall subscribe to the following oath: “I, ______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of ______ against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and of the Governor of the State of ______, that I make this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of ____ in the National Guard of the State of ______ upon which I am about to enter, so help me God.”

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 31232:112.
June 3, 1916, ch. 134, § 73 (1st par.); restated
June 15, 1933, ch. 87, § 11 (1st par.), 48 Stat. 157;
July 9, 1952, ch. 608, § 806(c), 66 Stat. 507. The words “Each person who is appointed as an” are inserted for clarity.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

32 U.S.C. § 312

Title 32National Guard

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73