Cadet Oath
Symbolism
The Cadet Oath symbolizes how serious cadets are about becoming leaders. Cadets are expected to be able to recite the Cadet Oath from memory. More importantly, you will need strength of character to live up to its noble tenets.
What is an Oath?
An oath is a solemn promise. Oaths are usually made in public and involve promises that serve a public good. When you swear an oath, you put your personal honor and reputation on the line. When someone has a serious responsibility to fulfill, we need to hear them acknowledge the importance of their duties. When you testify in court, you swear to tell the truth. When the president assumes office, he or she swears an oath. Members of the military swear an oath when they enlist or are commissioned. Likewise, CAP cadets have an oath of their own.
The Cadet Oath
I pledge that I will serve faithfully in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, and that I will attend meetings regularly, participate actively in unit activities, obey my officers, wear my uniform properly, and advance my education and training rapidly to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state, and nation.
The Oath in Context
| “I pledge that I will serve faithfully in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program …” | Being faithful means being true and doing what you say you will do. In this first line of the oath, you are saying that you understand what you are getting yourself into by joining CAP, and that you are freely choosing to become a cadet. |
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| “… and that I will attend meetings regularly, …” | While you may need to miss a few meetings once in a while due to other commitments, you pledge to attend squadron meetings on a regular basis |
| “… participate actively in unit activities, …” | You promise to be enthusiastic about what cadets do. You’re joining CAP because you are looking forward to great activities, and naturally you intend to take part in them. |
| “… obey my officers, …” | Here you acknowledge you don’t have all the answers. You realize there are people who have more experience than you, and you’ll follow their guidance. You promise to listen to your leaders. But if an officer were to tell you to do something morally wrong, you would not have to obey them. |
| “… wear my uniform properly …” | There is a right way and a wrong way to wear the uniform. Recognizing this, you promise to represent CAP and the US Air Force well by always looking sharp in uniform. Because the cadet uniform is similar to the Air Force uniform, you know you have a special obligation to live up to the ideals it represents. |
| “… and advance my education and training rapidly …” | The word “cadet” can be defined as “a young person in training to become a leader.” Therefore, a cadet’s primary job is to learn how to lead. In the Cadet Oath you promise to take that duty seriously. |
| “… to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state, and nation.” | CAP is a volunteer organization whose main purpose is community service. Everything we do is altruistic, meaning that it is for the benefit of others, not ourselves personally. By participating in cadet activities, you gain from those experiences, but the overall goal is to build yourself into a responsible citizen, so America benefits too. America needs leaders who look out for the needs of the community, not their own selfish desires. |
