35th Brigade (Virginia)

Effective Date: 15 July 1999

INSTRUCTION No. 1-1

EMERGENCY SERVICES OATH

Purpose: This Instruction is issued to mandate completion of the Virginia Emergency Services Oath by all members of the Brigade as a requirement to perform emergency services duties.

1. Requirement for an Oath: The VIRGINIA EMERGENCY SERVICES AND DISASTER LAW OF 1973, AS AMENDED requires that all individuals serving in emergency services organizations swear (or affirm) loyalty to the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The text of the law follows:

44-146.25. Certain persons not to be employed or associated in emergency services organizations; loyalty oath required.– No person shall be employed or associated in any emergency services organization established under this chapter who advocates or has advocated a change by force or violence in the constitutional form of government of the United States or in this Commonwealth or the overthrow of any government in the United States by force, or violence, or who has been convicted of, or is under indictment or information charging any subversive act against the United States. Each person who is appointed to serve in an organization for emergency services shall, before entering upon his duties, take an oath, in writing, before a person authorized to administer oaths in this Commonwealth, which shall be substantially as follows:

I ______________ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of this state by force or violence and that during such time as I am a member of the (name of emergency services organization), I will not advocate, nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States or of this State by force or violence.

2. When Oath Must Be Completed: New members of the Brigade must complete the oath and forward the original documentation for inclusion in their personnel records within the first three months of membership. Failure to do so will bar promotion to grade authorized for a position and result in denial of renewal of membership. Only individuals who have completed the oath with the original filed in the Brigade files may be assigned to emergency services duties.

3. Procedure for Completing the Oath:

a. All new members will receive a copy of the oath in their initial materials.

b. Take the form for the oath to a Notary Public, fill in your name on the first line of the oath, and sign your name as indicated before the Notary. Have the completed oath notarized with either an impress or stamped seal affixed.

c. Retain a copy of the oath for your personal records.

d. Forward the copy with original signatures to the Brigade for inclusion in your personnel files.

References: Virginia EMERGENCY SERVICES AND DISASTER LAW OF 1973, AS AMENDED.

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