For God, Family and Country…Dedicated to My Father the Late Mr. Charles Dukes

[Prophetess Sandra Dukes, a.m.]

Dedicated to my father the late Mr. Charles Dukes (U.S. Air Force Airman / Pentagon) and to the active, retired and fallen soldiers (men and women) of my family and all other families who serve & served our country.

From slaves and servants, to wash women and yard boys, the well of faith sprang
Forging the way through illiteracy, stumbling/ falling, sometimes crawling;
Readers of the Word and the academic world
Maids to cosmetologists, bus porters to the pentagon, privates to captains and commanders--
The Begat and the Begotten
(Poet Sandra Dukes excerpt from Cheerleaders of the World)


The Oath

For Those Who Protect on Land Air and Sea
To Those Who Have Taken the Oath to God and Country I Give Homage

I, (name), 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.[1]

A Brief History of the Oath

According to one reference work, an oath is “a solemn appeal to God to witness the truth of a statement or the sincerity of a promise, coupled with an imprecation of divine judgment in the event of falsehood or breach of obligation.”5 This definition is captured in the Hippocratic Oath, one of the worlds oldest and most famous: “I swear . . . according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath. . . . With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. . . . While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!”6 Several concepts in this oath still resonate in the one taken by today’s military officer- a call to a higher power, a statement to perform to the best of one’s ability, a sense of honor, and an acknowledgement of the consequences of failing to live up to one’s word.

The first law of the United States of America, enacted in the first session of the first Congress on 1 June 1789, was statute 1, chapter 1: an act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths, which established the oath required by civil and military officials to support the Constitution.1 The founding fathers agreed upon the importance of ensuring that officials promised their allegiance; indeed, very little debate occurred before the first Congress passed this statute.2 Although the wording of the military officer’s oath has changed several times in the past two centuries, the basic foundation has withstood the test of time. The current oath is more than a mere formality that adds to the pageantry of a commissioning or promotion ceremony- it provides a foundation for leadership decisions.3

One finds numerous oaths in our nation. Just before commissioning or enlisting, every officer candidate and enlistee recites an oath. The president of the United States takes an oath before assuming duties. Senators, congressmen, judges, and other government officials take oaths of office. New citizens of the United States take a naturalization oath. Many schoolchildren take an oath or pledge allegiance to the flag. Although its members are not required to swear or affirm before going into combat, the US military developed a code of conduct to guide servicemen. When an officer is promoted, the promotion ceremony often includes a restatement of the officer’s oath.

The military officer’s oath is a combination of constitutional requirement, historical influence, and centuries-old custom. To better appreciate the oath, one must understand its history.
Conclusion

By studying the key documents and events in America’s history, military officers can gain better insight into their oath of office and the moral implications of their actions. Junior officers should focus on how to well and faithfully discharge the duties of their office. For senior officers, the oath should carry even greater significance as they use a more indirect style of leadership to instill in their followers the service’s core values (table 2).


Comparison of the Oath of Office
to Core Values

Oath of Office Core Values


Air Force Navy/
Marine Corps Army

I will support and defend
the Constitution of the
United States against all
enemies, foreign and
domestic.

Service before
Self Courage Selfless Service
Personal Courage
Loyalty

I take this obligation
freely, without any
mental reservation or
purpose of evasion.

Integrity First Honor Integrity

I will well and faithfully
discharge the duties of
the office upon which I
am about to enter.

Excellence in
All We Do Commitment Duty
Respect

(The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University).

The Bible includes references to oaths. For example, Matthew quotes Jesus as saying, Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord (Matt. 5:33).

None of the rich, the powerful, the honorable, or the accomplished of the sons of men, are so excellent, useful, or happy, as the wise man. Who else can interpret the words of God, or teach aright from his truths and dispensations? What madness must it be for weak and dependent creatures to rebel against the Almighty! What numbers form wrong judgments, and bring misery on themselves, in this life and that to come! Matthew Henry’ Concise Commentary

Prophetess Sandra Dukes
Speaking when He tells me to Speak
Jeremiah 1: 7-19
The Word in me is the God in me