Swearing

If you join the military voluntarily, do you get the right to choose participation in missions? I would think not. But then, I would not join the military. As much training and comradery and discipline I might learn there, I'd still be offering myself for fundamentally violent action. Sure, the military is tasked with "defense" but that defense is defined as weaponry and fighting. Not for me. Anyway, I am curious by the movement building around Lieutenant Watada, who has refused to serve in Iraqi missions. I heartily applaud his acting upon principles, but am unsure about the logic behind joining a hierarchical organization tasked with fulfilling the nation's militaristic "needs" (desires?) and then dictating the limits of that participation. Then again, it's tough to effectively challenge anything from the outside. More things to ponder.

For fun I looked up the military oaths. Can an atheist join the military? Does this oath give equal power to the President as to the Constitution? What is the operational definition of "enemy"?

The Oath of Enlistment (for enlistees): "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; 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."

The Oath of Office (for officers): "I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."