What a difference our military oath makes Published Dec. 16, 2009 By Col. Robert Lucania 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- After 36 years as an Airman serving our great nation, my wife and I have made the tough decision to transition to a service calling with our civilian partners. Since this transition is coming up quickly, this will be my last guest commander's corner. There are many things you learn during a career in the Air Force. I have been lucky enough to live in a different country and witness events that others can only read about in textbooks. While living in Germany during the Cold War, I never dreamed I would be standing at the Berlin Wall, witnessing it being torn down piece by piece. I have met great leaders some only read about in Air War College. Looking back, I realize all the awesome mentors I came to know and how appreciative I am to have met them. I thought about what to write in this last article and thanks to a young executive officer, it came to me in a flash. During a discussion on core values, this young man could not understand what made our job different. He and I both tracked productivity, reviewed budgets, used Six Sigma tools and, most importantly, knew how to prepare PowerPoint presentations. Therefore we must have the same principles, goals and core values. After much debate, I came out with the obvious: our roles are different because of our military oath. We are sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States with our life if necessary. Even after explaining it, this young man still did not get it, which prompted me to write this column. Military oaths date back to ancient Rome, when soldiers pledged a loyalty to specific generals in a campaign. The first law of the United States enacted by the first Congress on June 1, 1789, was an act to regulate the time and manner of administrating certain oaths which established the oath taken by civil and military officials to support the constitution. Our founding fathers believed that officials should promise an allegiance. Throughout the last 220 years, there were several variations of the words. To this day, it continues to be a combination of constitutional requirement, historical influence and century's custom. When I first took the military oath, I was uncertain of the exact meaning. However, it became clearer as I learned more of our military history and the promise we made to our nation. When you break the officer oath down to its components, it looks like this: I (accepting full responsibility) Do solemnly swear (or affirm) (commitment) That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States (directed call) Against all enemies, foreign and domestic (defend against all enemies) That I will bear truth and allegiance to the same (faith in our system and cohesion for innovation) That I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion (guarantee loyalty and integrity) And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter (excellence in all we do) So help me God (assertion of sincerity and good faith) That is a simple breakdown of the military oath of office and its meaning. I have taken the oath 14 times during my career and administered it three times that number. Each time I hear or say it, I reaffirm the meaning and remember the reason I have worn the blue uniform for so many years. Next time someone asks why your job is different, the answer should be obvious. You took an oath and follow the Air Force's core values. What a difference you all have made to our nation -- and thanks for all you do every day, everywhere, every time.