The first law of the United States (June 1, 1789, Statute 1, Chapter 1) included the requirement that members of Congress and other public officials take an oath or affirmation to support the U.S. Constitution, according to Article 6 of the Constitution. On September 29, 1789, Statue 2, Chapter 25, two oaths, forming an Oath of Enlistment, were added explicitly for Military service persons,
. separate from the oath for government officials. One oath was for Military officers and the other was for enlisted persons. Both of the oaths contained wording that pledged allegiance to the United States, replacing allegiance to the Constitution. The oath for enlisted personnel consisted of a promise to obey the chain of command, including orders of the President of the United States. In July 1862, a Civil War statute or Ironclad Test Oath was enacted, expanding the Military Oath of Enlistment to encompass measures that were meant to ensure allegiance to the Union and not the Confederacy. The first part of the oath was somewhat of a background check, stating that soldiers were affirming they had never taken up arms against the United States or encouraged persons hostile to the U.S. government. A second amendment to the oath elicited a pledge that soldiers were taking on an obligation of service to the United States without mental reservation or intention of invasion, so help them God. After the war, the background component of the oath was deleted. Subsequent legislative changes mainly addressed how the oath was applied. The wording of the Military Oath remained the same until after World War II, when the Uniform Code of Military Justice (May 1950) was established. Section 8 consolidated the Articles of War, the Disciplinary Laws of the Coast Guard and the Articles of the Government of the Navy. The last revision to the Military Oath occurred in October 1962 to make the officer oath and enlisted oath more consistent. The phrase "support and defend the Constitution" was incorporated to reinforce the core values of the Army, Navy/Marine Corps and Air Force, which are: service before self; excellence; honor; personal courage; integrity; commitment; duty; and respect. More Reference Links: http://militaryoath.us/ http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C31.txt
