Presiding over Reenlisment

[HAL Pilot]

Ya, I seem to recall a thread with pictures of my swearing in WAAAY back and everyone was sh!tting on my recruiter for reading the oath. I think it would probably be better to get it right than to "memorize" it and screw it up.

I'm actually with joboy on this one. I've been retired for a few years but in my day I reenlisted my share of Sailors and I've went to even more reenlistments as an observer. I never saw anyone memorize the oath. It was always read off a card to ensure there were no errors. This must be a new trend.

 

[Brett327]

I'm actually with joboy on this one. I've been retired for a few years but in my day I reenlisted my share of Sailors and I've went to even more reenlistments as an observer. I never saw anyone memorize the oath. It was always read off a card to ensure there were no errors. This must be a new trend.

Seriously? It seems so amateurish.

Brett

 

[HAL Pilot]

Seriously? It seems so amateurish.

Brett

Seriously, except for the NC1 on my first shore tour. She used to tape a huge nicely done wall chart with the oath on it in the back of the room so the presiding officer could use it like a teleprompter.

Same thing for commissionings. I never saw a LDO / CWO commissioning during any of my tours where the officer administering the oath didn't read it off a card.

 

[tiger84]

Seriously, except for the NC1 on my first shore tour. She used to tape a huge nicely done wall chart with the oath on it in the back of the room so the presiding officer could use it like a teleprompter.

Same thing for commissionings. I never saw a LDO / CWO commissioning during any of my tours where the officer administering the oath didn't read it off a card.

For what it's worth, my recruiter read the oath from a card. I didn't feel it detracted at all from the ceremony and I would rather have had him get it right while reading from a card than make an error.

 

[robav8r]

Seriously? It seems so amateurish.

Brett

Concur with Brett on this one. Be professional and memorize the oath. It will be more better !!!

 

[phrogpilot73]

If his wife/children are there - make sure to thank them for their dedication and sacrifice well...

 

[HAL Pilot]

Concur with Brett on this one. Be professional and memorize the oath. It will be more better !!!

This isn't a matter of professionalism, it's a matter of preference. I'd rather read it off a card and get it right then screw up because I tried to memorize and then had a brain fart. I doubt the many officers including Admirals, Captains, COs and myself that read the reenlistment oath off of a card are all unprofessional.

And yes, I take offense to you basically saying I (and they) were.

 

[Brett327]

As far as that goes, if the CinC is going to be present at your reenlistment, why not have him do it. That would be memorable.

Brett

 

[robav8r]

This isn't a matter of professionalism, it's a matter of preference. I'd rather read it off a card and get it right then screw up because I tried to memorize and then had a brain fart. I doubt the many officers including Admirals, Captains, COs and myself that read the reenlistment oath off of a card are all unprofessional.

And yes, I take offense to you basically saying I (and they) were.

I didn't say you, or anyone else was unprofessional. I tried to imply that it is MORE professional to memorize the oath. And let's face it, it's NOT that difficult to memorize. As for you "taking offense" OK, we'll just agree to disagree.
:icon_carn

 

[BigIron]

As far as that goes, if the CinC is going to be present at your reenlistment, why not have him do it. That would be memorable.

Brett

well then the CinC would have to memorize the oath, but substitute "you must obey me and all officers appointed over you....." I bet GW would have a teleprompter

 

[Brett327]

I didn't say you, or anyone else was unprofessional. I tried to imply that it is MORE professional to memorize the oath. And let's face it, it's NOT that difficult to memorize. As for you "taking offense" OK, we'll just agree to disagree.
:icon_carn

Time for TACCO face-off!

 

[snake020]

I'd rather read it off a card and get it right then screw up because I tried to memorize and then had a brain fart.

Happened to me once. For some reason in the middle of it I started thinking about the officer oath, where it diverges after "will bear faith and true alliegance to the same". You know what I do now? I still do it from memory and have not made the same mistake again.

BTW, two weeks ago I saw an O-6 administering the oath to a guy getting promoted to O-5 and he screwed it up WITH the cards. Afterwards a number of officers advised me privately it's far better to memorize it.

 

[HAL Pilot]

As far as that goes, if the CinC is going to be present at your reenlistment, why not have him do it. That would be memorable.

Brett

Just guessing here but I think the oath has to be administered by a commissioned officer. Even though the President is the CinC and signs our commissions, is he a commissioned officer? I seem to remember seeing a West Point graduation on TV where a President was present and gave a speech but where the Academy Commandant did the commissioning oath. Maybe it's a fine legal point because I sure the hell would want the President to give me my oath if he was present. (whether he read it or memorized it.....)

Of course I could be really f'ed up with this theory as I just pulled it out of my butt....

 

[robav8r]

Time for TACCO face-off!

OK Brett, I'll take "passive tracking patterns" for $300. HAL ???

 

[snake020]

Just guessing here but I think the oath has to be administered by a commissioned officer.

I don't know if it varies by service, but here is who is authorized to give the oath in the USAF:

"A civil official authorized by law to administer oaths; commissioned officer of any component of any Armed Force of the United States (includes Reserve components), whether on active duty or retired. (This includes commissioned warrant officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.)"