Oath of Exit Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3640 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3640 To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish an oath for members separating from the Armed Forces. _______________________________________________________________________ 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