A few weeks ago, USAFA/JA asked for a legal opinion from AF/JAA (our Administrative Law Directorate) regarding the oath requirement. But your state may let you vote during a designated early voting period. The case at Maxwell Air Force Base was quickly followed by another case of constitutional ignorance (or obstinance), this one being handled by MRFF. deleting the words "so help me God" in the officer commissioning oath on the commissioning form. Recently, at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, the religious oath issue came up when Air Force officer candidate Jonathan Bise threatened to sue if forced to say "so help me God" when taking his commissioning oath at his graduation ceremony. This oath was actually two oaths, both of which were required for both officers and enlisted: "I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States. Maybe that will help the Air Force answer the questions that they are "not prepared at this moment to definitively answer.". Our current legal advisors made me aware and we will ensure it reaches all corners of our program." In September 1789, the first military oath under the new Constitution was approved. It wasn't until long after the days of the founders -- over seven decades after these original oaths were written -- that "So help me God" was added to any military oath. A Marine re-enlists in the Marine Corps taking the Oath of Enlistment. Really? At that time, military officers were required to take the same oath taken by all officers of the government, military or civilian. Bise was not required to say "so help me God" at his graduation ceremony. So, why don't we just get back to the intent of the founders, which is what groups like Judicial Watch are always claiming they want to do? Bottom Line: Don't expect to have any words changed in the near future. There is an important difference to understand when reading the Officers' Oath of Enlistment compared to the Oath of Office. Senior Research Director, Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter, Register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot today. As the Fourth of July was approaching that year, people started sending me patriotic Independence Day articles from various military base newspapers, all of them pushing a very familiar theme -- getting back to America's Christian heritage. That wouldn't happen until 1962, when Congress passed an act to make the enlisted oath more consistent with the officer oath, which, of course, did include the "so help me God" line. That oath remained "godless" for another century. Mikey Weinstein, the founder and president of MRFF, immediately contacted the Pentagon about this obvious violation of the Constitution's "no religious test" clause and received the following reply a few hours later: From: "---------- Maj Gen USAF HQ USAF AF/JA", Subject: RE: EXTERNAL: Change to Oath of Office (Optional "So Help Me, God.". An Air Force officer administers the Oath to a group of 150 enlistees (not pictured) A Marine re-enlists in the Marine Corps taking the Oath of Enlistment A soldier of United States Army Europe taking the oath on Red Square prior to their participation in the 2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade. This oath, which was the same for both officers and enlisted, was part of "An Act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States the establishment of the Troops raised under the Resolves of the United States in Congress Assembled," and did not include the words "So help me God.". The latest collision between my job at MRFF and my work debunking the Christian nationalist version of American history is happening right now in the Air Force -- a battle over whether or not Air Force officers can be forced to say "So help me God" when taking their commissioning oath. 3331.

Problem solved, right? Sometimes circumstances make it hard or impossible for you to vote on Election Day. Then how come the military oath written by the very first Congress in 1789 left off the "So help me God" line? They're actually having a hard time coming to a definite, consistent decision about this. S o help me God. Visit the state elections site. Polling hours on Election Day: Varies by state/locality. I would like to clarify what MSgt ---------- sent out yesterday regarding the Oath of Office. That's right, the very first Congress, which included a good number of the founders who actually framed the Constitution, did not make "So help me God" part of the military oath! ", "I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me.". They had received no specific guidance. Clearly, my job at MRFF and my work debunking historical lies were not going to be two separate things. The first oath written specifically for the military, however, the oath first written in 1775 and revised in 1776 and taken by all enlisted soldiers, did not include the words. The oath for enlisted members of the military, however, was not changed at this time. Yes, it is true that one of the oaths used during the Revolutionary War, the oath taken by officers, did include the words. ©2020 Verizon Media. The Oath of enlistment is something that every service member must promise and adhere to for his/her entire military career.

All rights reserved. Yes, that was the Air Force's answer. An Air Force officer administers the Oath to a group of 150 enlistees (not pictured) Play media. Today, I spoke with the JAG and have the following information update: The Air Force has since rescinded the guidance of omission. I also questioned the Chaplain Corps who also had received no specific guidance. Today is National Voter Registration Day! But "So help me God" was still not added to the oath when this change was made. The purpose of the UCMJ, passed by Congress in May 1950, was to make the justice system in the military "uniform" across all of the branches of the military. The reason for the change at that time was the establishment of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Even David Barton himself was speaking on military bases, and his so-called "history" books were actually in the libraries of our military's colleges and service academies -- including the libraries at West Point and the Air Force Academy.
But first, here's what's going on. Apparently, the fact that the Constitution, with its "no religious test" clause, trumps any act of Congress doesn't seem to be enough for them to be "prepared at this moment to definitively answer." We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote. Our SJA recommends we standby for updates from higher headquarters as they become available. Here's the entire email, which was forwarded to MRFF on October 3: Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 10:45 AM, To: CS21_C14_ALL; CS21_C15_All; CS21_C16_All; CS21_C17_ALL, Cc: ---------- Maj USAF USAFA USAFA CG3/CS21; ---------- Maj USAF USAFA CW/CS27, Subject: INFO: Change to Oath of Office (Optional "So Help Me, God.". Naturally, most of these articles were chock full of the same Christian nationalist American history lies found in Barton's books and all over the web on the right-wing Christian websites. Judicial Watch, the right-wing watchdog group that has taken up the cause of forcing everyone in the Air Force to swear an oath to God -- regardless of their clear constitutional right not to -- claims that the proponents of forced religious oaths in the military have history on their side, saying: "While this oath has undergone modifications over the centuries, the phrase 'So help me God' dates all the way back to 1776. On October 2, an email was sent to cadets at the Air Force Academy informing them that Jonathan Bise's being allowed to omit "So help me God" from his oath at Maxwell Air Force Base, did not mean anything. If you are passionate about changing this legislation I encourage you to contact your Congressional Representatives and let them know how you feel.
Please see me if you have any questions regarding this issue. Well, this is where some revisionist history comes in. Yes, it is true that one of the oaths used during the Revolutionary War, the oath taken by officers, did include the words. These words were not part of any military oath until 1862, when the oath for officers needed to be changed because of the Civil War. Legislation is addressing the possibility of change however, due to other business priorities, who knows when this will be looked at again. Jonathan Bise -- not to mention the "no religious test" clause of the Constitution -- prevailed. What does this have to do with revisionist history? A slew of fundamentalist Christian military ministries, as well as performers and speakers appearing at events on military bases, were also promoting this revisionist history to our service members. There are actually people arguing that the founders saw no conflict between the Constitution and forcing someone to take a religious oath. The words in the Oath of Office MUST be said in order for your Commissioning to be legal. Because the oath created by an act of Congress contains the words "So help me God."