Oath of Office?

[Major Lord]

Last night my squadron held an awards ceremony ( One Cadet accepted to the AFA!) and a couple of Senior Members were promoted. For every promotion, the Seniors were "sworn in" , even though these were not the initial acceptance of their CAP "Commission".  My CD-S told me that this was a reg from within the last year or two. Can someone point me to it? Is this the common practice?

Major Lord

[a2capt]

1-7. Authority to Wear Officer Grade Insignia.
b. Commanders are encouraged to have promotion ceremonies each time a member receives a promotion and issue the CAP promotion oath to those earning officer grades. The CAP promotion oath is:
I, (full name), having been promoted to the grade of __________ in the Civil Air Patrol, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and comply with the Constitution, Bylaws and regulations of the Civil Air Patrol; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge all duties and responsibilities as well as obey the orders of the officers appointed over me according to regulations, so help me God.

Notice "encouraged" and "issue", where as the cadets are required to speak to accept their 1st stripe.

[vmstan]

We have never done this. Interesting.

[Major Lord]

I found it kind of.....hokey....

Major Lord

[DakRadz]

hokey

Major Lord

Having seen other posts by you, this word seems too.. unprofessional for you to use 

Well, the AF does it. So either A) a wannabee wanted to do this, or B) someone thought it would be a good idea to try to remind senior members to read the regs 
Really, my B) would be that someone wanted to remind senior members of their duties in a way, hmm?

[DC]

I agree with Major Lord, it sounds kind of overdone for CAP use. I have always found it a nice practice to have new cadets pinning on their first stripe recite the Cadet Oath, but that's it.

[Short Field]

I agree with Major Lord, it sounds kind of overdone for CAP use. I have always found it a nice practice to have new cadets pinning on their first stripe recite the Cadet Oath, but that's it.

In our squadron,all cadets recite the Cadet Oath on each promotion and all senior members recite the CAP promotion oath.  Hokey??? 

[jb512]

Yep.  Hokey.

[Dad2-4]

I think it lends a bit of professionalism and formality to the ceremony, something sometimes sorely lacking among SMs. Since there is a precedence for it in the regs, then I say go for it. Better than the "good ole boy" way I've seen some SM promotions go in the past.

[Major Lord]

An oath should not be entered into lightly. Like the oath to support and defend the Constitution or an oath of marriage, it should only have to be said once. I have no objections to taking an oath upon receiving a CAP "commission" but to continue to say it over and over again ( In vain repetition, as the heathen do...) to me cheapens it. I don't think the word "hokey" is at all inappropriate, but if you prefer, substitute; "Corny".

Major Lord

[a2capt]

I have to agree,  "over and over" again certainly cheapens it to me too.  It's not like a drivers license that needs renewing. It's a bit higher up than that. Just a bit. 

At least, it really should be. Otherwise, whats the point?

[FARRIER]

An oath should not be entered into lightly. Like the oath to support and defend the Constitution or an oath of marriage, it should only have to be said once. I have no objections to taking an oath upon receiving a CAP "commission" but to continue to say it over and over again ( In vain repetition, as the heathen do...) to me cheapens it. I don't think the word "hokey" is at all inappropriate, but if you prefer, substitute; "Corny".

Major Lord

Total agreement on this. Upon renewing, if you do it over the computer with a credit card, you agree to follow the orders...etc. Its an oath in itself.

[Eclipse]

An oath should not be entered into lightly. Like the oath to support and defend the Constitution or an oath of marriage, it should only have to be said once. I have no objections to taking an oath upon receiving a CAP "commission" but to continue to say it over and over again ( In vain repetition, as the heathen do...) to me cheapens it. I don't think the word "hokey" is at all inappropriate, but if you prefer, substitute; "Corny".

Practice disagrees with you - these were easy to find and there's plenty more where that came from...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM_uJzBMHfU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaU13Dld7Ck

Assuming this was done for every CAP promotion, most members would never recite the oath more than 5 times in a 10-15 year period,
and most probably 1/2 of that.   Many of our "Senior-Captains" have never recited it and never will.  Hardly "often", or "over and over.

People reaffirm their marriage vows all the time, and I have seen plenty of promotion and re-enlistment ceremonies where oaths are reaffirmed.

Anything that reminds our members that we are more than a flying club works for me.

[SarDragon]

Reenlistments - I agree. I did that every time.

Promotions - eh. I don't recall ever redoing an oath any time I got advanced in the Navy. But that was a while back, too. Last promo was in 1976.

[DakRadz]

But as far as I've been informed, in the RM, officers don't have contracts, other than the initial service requirement (to pay back serve to make up for the funds for USNA/ROTC)- so they wouldn't have an occasion to say the oath other than promotions.

The reenlistments part, for enlisted, makes a lot of sense to me. But A) CAP has "reenlistments" every year. Promotions are usually much farther between.
EDIT: Forgot B)- B) Since promotions in CAP would all be officer promotions (unless the enlisted CAPpers decided to have two ceremonies, RM and CAP), the RM equivalent is to say the oath at promotions.

[MSgt Van]

Seems to me the appropriate time (if there is one in CAP) would be when you renew your membership, whether you renew every year, or every three.  I see absolutely no correlation between the CAP oath and a military officer or enlisted oath.  None whatsoever.

[DakRadz]

I, (full name), having been promoted to the grade of __________ in the Civil Air Patrol, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and comply with the Constitution, Bylaws and regulations of the Civil Air Patrol; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge all duties and responsibilities as well as obey the orders of the officers appointed over me according to regulations, so help me God.

I, (state your full name) having been appointed a ________ in the United States Air Force do solemnly swear 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 which I am about to enter so help me God.

Minus the defending and obvious RM parts, rather similar.

[MSgt Van]

Wording similar yes, it's the whole defending the Constitution of the United States vs the constitution of a non-profit organization thing.

Now that I think of it I remember having to take an oath along the same lines when I was hired as a repair technician at an audio/video store on an overseas base.

[DakRadz]

I agree with you, when you put it that way.

Wow... Okay then.

[HGjunkie]

Now that I think of it I remember having to take an oath along the same lines when I was hired as a repair technician at an audio/video store on an overseas base.

??