Sailor's Creed
I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THOSE APPOINTED OVER ME.
I AM A UNITED STATES SAILOR
I REPRESENT THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF THE NAVY AND THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE ME TO DEFEND FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD.
I PROUDLY SERVE MY COUNTRY’S NAVY COMBAT TEAM WITH HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.
I AM COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND THE FAIR TREATMENT OF ALL.
History
Original version
The first version of the Sailor's Creed came from an idea in 1986 by Admiral James D. Watkins, Chief of Naval Operations, to form a group that would create a Code of Ethics for the Navy. The result of this meeting at the Naval War College was the eight-point The Navy Uniform, and was later scaled down to a shorter version called the Sailor's Creed.[1] The original text was as follows:
- I will be loyal to my country, its Constitution and laws, and to my shipmates.
- I will be honest in my personal and professional life and encourage my shipmates to do the same.
- I will, to the best of my ability, do the right thing for its own sake, and I am prepared to face pain or death in defense of my country.
- I will be a professional, wearing my uniform with pride and accepting responsibility for my actions.
- I will set excellence as my standard and always strive for ways to make me a better sailor and my crew a better crew.
Current version
The current version of the Sailor's Creed was a product of many Blue Ribbon Recruit Training Panels in 1993 at the direction of Admiral Frank B. Kelso II, Chief of Naval Operations. It has been revised twice; once in 1994 under the direction of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jeremy Boorda, and again in 1997. These changes were made to make the creed inclusively descriptive of all hands.[2] The creed is taught and recited in boot camp and at some officer accession programs.[3][4]
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.
I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.
I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.See also
- Hospital Corpsman
- Rifleman's Creed (USMC)
- Airman's Creed
- Soldier's Creed
- Quartermaster Creed
- Ranger Creed
- Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman
- Noncommissioned officer's creed
References
- Management Fundamentals: A Guide for Senior and Master Chief Petty Officers. Naval Education and Training Program Management Support Activity. 1990. p. 5-2.
- "The Sailor's Creed". Archived from the original on 2006-07-22. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- Munsey, Christopher. "Command to oversee all accession training". Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- Faram, Mark. "Who, exactly, is a ‘sailor’?". Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2008-01-01.