I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5872 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a separation oath for 
members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2020 
Mr. MAST (for himself, Mr. BARR, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. STIV-
ERS, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. POSEY, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. CRAWFORD, 
and Mr. MARSHALL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a separa-
tion oath for members of the Armed Forces who are 
separating from military service. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Oath of Exit Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATION OATH FOR MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
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(1) The United States Armed Forces is the 
largest, all-volunteer military force in the world, yet 
less than one percent of the American population 
serves in the Armed Forces. 
(2) Each branch of the Armed Forces (Army, 
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) in-
stills in its members a sense of duty and obligation 
to the United States, their branch of service, and 
their comrades-in-arms. 
(3) The Department of Veterans Affairs esti-
mates that approximately 20 veterans of the Armed 
Forces commit suicide each day and a veteran’s risk 
of suicide is 21 percent higher compared to an adult 
who has not served in the Armed Forces. 
(4) The Department of Veterans Affairs is ag-
gressively undertaking measures to prevent these 
tragic outcomes, yet suicide rates among veterans 
remain unacceptably high. 
(5) Upon enlistment or appointment in the 
Armed Forces, a new member is obligated to take an 
oath of office or oath of enlistment. 
(6) Most members of the Armed Forces view 
this oath not as an imposition, but as a promise that 
they are bound to fulfill. 
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(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATION OATH.—Sec-
tion 502 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c) and, in such subsection, by striking ‘‘The 
oath’’ and inserting ‘‘An oath established by this 
section’’; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection (b): 
‘‘(b) SEPARATION OATH.—Prior to retirement or 
other separation from the armed forces, other than sepa-
ration pursuant to the sentence of a court-martial, a mem-
ber of an armed force may take the following oath: 
‘‘ ‘I, llllllll , recognizing that my 
oath to support and defend the Constitution of the 
United States against all enemies, foreign and do-
mestic, has involved me and my fellow members in 
experiences that few persons, other than our peers, 
can understand, do solemnly swear (or affirm) to 
continue to be the keeper of my brothers- and sis-
ters-in-arms and protector of the United States and 
the Constitution; to preserve the values I have 
learned; to maintain my body and my mind; to give 
help to, and seek help from, my fellow veterans; and 
to not bring harm to myself or others. I take this 
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oath freely and without purpose of evasion, so help 
me God.’ ’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of section 
502 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘§ 502. Enlistment oath and separation oath: who 
may administer’’. 
(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 31 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by striking the item relat-
ing to section 502 and inserting the following new 
item: 
‘‘502. Enlistment oath and separation oath: who may administer.’’. 
Æ 
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