This is something that’s been on my mind ever since it happened somewhere back in the 90s. I had applied and gotten into a clerical pool at a state university, and as part of the process of getting in, I had to raise my right hand and swear something to the effect that I would “defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” I don’t remember the rest of it.
Some questions:
Why would anyone have to do this for a clerical pool?
What is the point of such an oath if it’s not even military service?
Have any of you had to do it, or did you get out of it?
Well, I’m a federal employee and I had to take the oath. Pretty similar to what the military uses. I think all federal employees have to take it. Or at least all the employees at the VA where I work did.
Whatever the purpose I’m afraid it was mostly lost on me. I giggled in the middle of the swearing in. I did feel a mite silly.
A quick google for state + oath + employment gets a lot of links like this. Apparently it’s pretty standard for a civil service job. Theoretically you are representing the government no matter what your job is.
“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution”
Exactly what state employees count as executive officers? That could be a difficult question at the margins, so why worry about drawing the line just right? Just swear in everyone who has any decision-making authority in the context of a state government – and that includes employees at state universities.
I’ve been a State employee for over 14 years - no one in my agency takes an oath… Only elected officials and law enforcement have to take an oath. Civilian workers in the Military department do not have to take an oath, but members of the military do.