Sailor’s Creed
“I am a United States Sailor.
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the order 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.”
Sailor’s Creed
What is the Sailor’s Creed and who is it for?
It’s a written standard with codes for discipline in the Navy. The Sailor’s Creed is created specifically for the Navy.
It focuses on:
- Self-respect
- Respect for others
- Honor
- Courage
- Commitment
In the Navy, it’s recited like the pledge of allegiance from when you were in public schools.
The history of how the Sailor’s Creed made its way to every rank in the Navy
In 1994, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jeremy Boorda changed the creed from saying the word “bluejacket” to the word “Navy.”
This change basically made the creed inclusive of all the ranks in the Navy. “Bluejackets” referred to people who enlisted.
Those appointed over me
In 1997, the word “my superiors” was replaced with “those appointed over me.”
These changes made the creed a standard for every rank in the Navy from E-1 to O-10. The Sailor’s Creed is now mandatory training for everyone in the Navy including those in Officer ranks.
All personnel in the Navy are considered first and foremost sailors, followed by officers, chiefs, and petty officers, including aviators, Seabees, surface warriors, and submariners.
Who wrote the Sailor’s Creed?
The Blue Ribbon Recruit Training Panel wrote the creed and final edits were made by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Frank Kelso.
It was Admiral Frank Kelso who decided that every recruit commit the creed to memory.
Conclusion
The Sailor’s Creed is a written standard of codes for discipline in the Navy that emphasizes self-respect, respect for others, honor, courage, and commitment. It was created specifically for the Navy and is recited by all ranks in the Navy as a pledge of allegiance.
The history of how the creed was changed to be inclusive of all ranks in the Navy reflects the Navy’s commitment to unity and discipline.
The Sailor’s Creed was written by the Blue Ribbon Recruit Training Panel and finalized by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Frank Kelso, who also mandated that every recruit commit the creed to memory.
The Sailor’s Creed represents the fighting spirit of the Navy and the commitment of all personnel to serve their country’s Navy combat team with excellence and fair treatment for all.
