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Comment by the__alchemist | Hacker News Reader

As a veteran, I have optimism these active duty military troops will recognize their duty. "I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic". ICE is the best example of a domestic enemy I have seen.

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Law of war training for new troops was eliminated back in April.[1] The core concept that members of the US military have a duty to resist illegal orders is no longer taught to troops.

Recall Trump's comments after several US members of Congress made a video along the lines of "you must refuse illegal orders." Trump called this "seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH!"[2]

[1] https://www.veterannews.org/veteran-news/army-eliminates-sev...

[2] https://www.npr.org/2025/11/20/nx-s1-5615190/trump-democrats...

That's not good, but their command structure will still have learned the LOAC, right?

The parts of the command structure, Inspectors General and attorneys in the Judge Advocate General's office, that are supposed to enforce that have been gutted.[1] Secretary Hegseth said that the removals were necessary because he didn't want them to pose any "roadblocks to orders that are given by a commander in chief."

[1] https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/24/people-are-ve...

I wouldn't be so sure. A long time ago an ex-serviceman told me the danger sign isn't when troops from NY state are deployed in NYC, it's when troops from Kentucky are deployed in NYC. In this case they're bringing troops in from Alaska to deploy in Minneapolis, they may as well be occupying forces from another country.

I'm suspecting they'd stay neutral, but even that would be better than ICE alone: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46666605

The full oath is as follows

10 U.S.C. S: 502

S: 502. Enlistment oath: who may administer

(a) Enlistment Oath.- Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:

I, (state name of enlistee), 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)."

Are you sure it's still that and hasn't been changed to "I swear by God this holy oath that I shall render unconditional obedience to the President of the United States and people, Donald Trump, supreme commander of the armed forces, and that as a brave soldier I shall at all times be prepared to give my life for this oath"?

Note that the Officer's oath Does not mention the President:

> I ___, 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; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. (Title 5 U.S. Code 3331, an individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services)

The full text of Title 5 U.S. Code Section 3331 is as follows

5 U.S.C. S: 3331 - Oath of office

An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: "I, AB, 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; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." This section does not affect other oaths required by law.

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Where does this optimism come from? Having worked with many veterans I doubt their actual commitment to the constitution over their commitment to “patriotism”, something which seems to include taking pleasure in hurting their neighbors.

This kind of talk is needlessly optimistic. We’ve already seen how you all are, or there would’ve been more action from you all in stopping us from getting where we are now.

Give us a break from the military worship BS. Most veterans don’t have the gall to stand up against this sort of thing and we all know it.

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