Title 32 — National GuardRelease 119-73not60
§312 Appointment Oath
Title 32 › Chapter 3— PERSONNEL › § 312
Summary
Anyone appointed an officer in the National Guard must swear or affirm to defend both the U.S. and State constitutions, be loyal, obey orders from the President and the Governor, promise this freely without intent to evade it, and faithfully perform their office duties; a religious closing may be added.
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 32 — National Guard
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60