What is the military oath of enlistment for the Navy?

I'm researching what it means to take the oath of enlistment for the Navy. Can someone explain what the oath includes and what commitments you're making when you recite it?

The U.S. Navy, like all other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, utilizes a standard Oath of Enlistment that all incoming recruits must recite and uphold. By swearing or affirming this oath, you're making a formal commitment to defend the Constitution of the United States, to obey orders, and to support the nation with your service. Here's what the oath reads:

"I, (state your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Note that the phrase "So help me God" is optional and can be omitted based on personal preference. The obligations you're affirming in this oath are not lightly undertaken. As a member of the military, you are committing to a term of service (the duration depends on your specific enlistment contract), during which you may be called on to perform duties and undertake risks that are quite different from civilian life. The commitment is a serious one, and it's essential to understand what you're agreeing to.