§502 Enlistment Oath: Who May Administer

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 50150:737.May 5, 1950, ch. 169, § 8, 64 Stat. 146. 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.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in the oath, is classified to chapter 47 (§ 801 et seq.) of this title. Codification Another section 502 was renumbered section 500b of this title.

2006—Pub. L. 109–364 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “This oath may be taken before any commissioned officer of any armed force.”, and added subsec. (b). 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.

of 1962 Amendment Pub. L. 87–751, § 3, Oct. 5, 1962, 76 Stat. 748, 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].”