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To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish an oath for members separating from the Armed Forces.
Summary
This bill establishes an optional separation oath that members of the Armed Forces may take prior to retirement or separation from service. The oath acknowledges the bond between service members and commits them to continue supporting fellow veterans, preserve their values, maintain their physical and mental health, seek and provide help to other veterans, and not harm themselves or others. The bill modifies title 10 of the United States Code to add this new separation oath provision alongside the existing enlistment oath. The oath is voluntary and cannot be required of members being separated pursuant to a court-martial sentence.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Brian J. Mast’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $236,075
- EDW C LEVY CO $13,200
- NOBLE PROPERTIES $7,600
- EXPEDITED TRAVEL $7,100
- BLUE OWL CAPITAL $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Brian J. Mast → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- May 29, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. · house
- May 29, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2025
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish an oath for members separating from the Armed Forces.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:
(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, Space Force, and Coast Guard) instills 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 estimates that approximately 20 veterans of the Armed Forces commit suicide each day, and a veteran’s risk of suicide is 21 percent higher than an adult who has not served in the Armed Forces.
(4) The Department of Veterans Affairs is aggressively 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.
(b) Establishment of Separation Oath.—Section 502 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (b), by striking “The oath” and inserting “An oath established by this section”;
(2) by redesignating subsection (b), as amended, as subsection (c); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b):
“(b) Separation Oath.—Prior to retirement or other separation from the armed forces, other than separation pursuant to the sentence of a court-martial, a member of an armed force may take the following oath: “‘I, __________, recognizing that my oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, 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 sisters-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 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: “Sec. 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 relating to section 502 and inserting the following new item:
“502. Enlistment oath and separation oath: who may administer.”. <all>
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