1498 MILITIA. [ART. 65

1908. ch 103, sec. 50.

49. Every person who enlists or re-enlists shall sign and make
oath to an enlistment paper, which shall contain the following state-
ment and oath or affirmation, viz.: I, ————, born in ————, in the
State of ————, aged ———— years, and by occupation a ————, do
hereby on this ———— day of ————, 1—, volunteer and enlist to
serve as a soldier in the Maryland National Guard for the term of
three years, unless sooner discharged. I, ————, in the presence of
Almighty God, do solemnly promise (or declare) that I will bear true
allegiance to the State of Maryland and I will support the Constitution
thereof. I, ————, in the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly
promise (or declare) that I will faithfully and impartially discharge
all the duties incumbent upon me according to the best of my ability
and understanding agreeable to the Constitution and laws of the State
of Maryland. I, ————, in the presence of Almighty God, do sol-
emnly promise (or declare) that I will support the Constitution of the
United States and the laws made in pursuance thereof. Such oath
shall be taken and subscribed to before a field officer, regimental adju-
tant or a commanding officer of a signal corps, troop, battery, company
or division, or an officer detailed for the purpose of mustering an or-
ganization. The officers named in the preceding paragraph are author-
ized to administer said oaths, but no enlistment shall be valid until it
be approved by the commanding officer of the organization to which
the signal corps, troops, battery, company or division is attached, or
of which it forms a part. A person making a false oath as to any
statement contained in such enlistment paper shall upon conviction be
deemed guilty of perjury.

1908, ch. 103, sec. 51.

50. Enlisted men may be transferred, upon their own applications,
in the same organization by the commanding officers of such organiza-
tions; from one organization to another, by a commanding officer of the
brigade; or from the brigade to the naval brigade, or vice versa, by
the commander-in-chief. All such transfers to be approved by the com-
manding officers of the respective organizations. Non-commissioned
officers must be returned to the ranks before they can be transferred.

1908, ch. 103, sec. 52. 1910, ch. 204, sec. 52 (p. 197).

51. Commanding officers of regiments and of battalions not part of
regiments shall appoint and warrant the non-commissioned staff officers
of their respective regiments, and they shall, in their discretion, war-
rant the non-commissioned officers of the companies of their respective
regiments or battalions from the members thereof, upon the written
nomination of the commanding officer of the company. In the troop,
battery or separate company and in the signal corps the non-commis-
sioned officers shall be warranted by the commanding officer of the
brigade, at his discretion, from the members thereof, upon the written