Oath of Exit Act
The Oath of Exit Act would amend title 10 of the U.S. Code to create an optional Separation Oath for members of the Armed Forces as they retire or separate from active duty (excluding separations resulting from a court-martial). The oath is designed to reaffirm loyalty to the Constitution, emphasize the service member’s ongoing responsibility to fellow service members, and encourage personal health and mutual support among veterans (including seeking or offering help). The language explicitly ends with the standard “so help me God.” The bill also makes clerical changes to place the separation oath alongside the enlistment oath and clarifies who may administer these oaths. The text frames the measure within broader concerns about veteran well-being, including suicide prevention, and positions the oath as a voluntary enhancement rather than a mandatory requirement. Introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Mast on May 29, 2025, the bill would implement these changes through amendments to Section 502 of Title 10. It also reworks the section heading and the table of sections to reflect that both enlistment and separation oaths are covered under the same framework and administered by the appropriate officials.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of a Separation Oath as an optional step before retirement or other separation from the Armed Forces (not applicable to separations arising from a court-m martial).
- 2Oath text: a formal promise to remain a keeper of comrades, protect the United States and the Constitution, preserve learned values, maintain physical and mental health, assist fellow veterans, seek and accept help, and not harm oneself or others, ending with “so help me God.”
- 3Amendments to Section 502 of Title 10: redesignation of subsection (b) as (c) and creation of a new subsection (b) to govern the Separation Oath; language ties the oath to the broader enlistment oath framework.
- 4Clerical and structural changes: heading of Section 502 changed to “Enlistment oath and separation oath: who may administer,” and the table of sections updated to reflect the new arrangement and scope.
- 5Legislative context: introduced May 29, 2025 in the House, referred to the Committee on Armed Services; the findings emphasize concerns about veteran suicide and the aim of reinforcing duty, support networks, and resilience.