Also known as the United States Uniformed Services Oath of Office.
On 1988-05-26, I was sworn in as an officer in the United States Air Force, after having completed my AFROTC training at MIT. My brother Mark, who was on active duty as an officer in the Army, administered the United States Uniformed Services Oath of Office to me in MIT’s legendary Building 20:
I, [name], having been appointed (rank) 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; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
It would be the first – but not the last – time that I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution.
Erik J. Heels is a trademark and patent lawyer, Boston Red Sox fan, MIT engineer, and musician. He blogs about technology, law, baseball, and rock ‘n’ roll at erikjheels.com.
