1. CSM Rick Lamb
A SOLDIER’S PROMISE
The people of the United States expect me to be an Elite Warrior, capable of doing
things with my hands and weapons better than anyone else in the world; I will not
violate that trust. I will live by the Special Forces and Ranger Creeds, committing their
words to my memory. Wherever I go I will make it apparent that I am the best.
I will learn the lineage and honors of Special Operations Forces and be a proud
contributor to that heritage. I will show disdain for those who have no respect for
themselves, their detachments or their unit; they are not worthy of my respect, trust
or friendship.
I will study the art of war, learning the lessons of those who fought before me.
Combat application will dictate everything that I do. I will possess and nurture the
soul and mind of a warrior. I will be a master of my profession, the Profession of
Arms.
I understand that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. And those
who do not revere the warriors that sacrificed before them are condemned to live a
life with no heart, no soul, no conscience, no honor and no purpose.
I am prepared to die for my teammates and my unit. I will become a rock when my
mates are weak; no one will stumble because I failed to motivate. I will fill with rage
at the sound of battle, knowing that the selfless acts of the individual soldier will
always carry the day. I understand that all men die, but few men really live. I choose
to make my life the stuff of legend.
In the shadow of every teammate lies a family. I understand that the counsel of a
loved one is an aspect of warfare older than time itself. I will take care of my
teammates and their families because our collective lives depend on it. I realize that
caring means making times tough, because tough times will ensure survival. A
hardship borne by one will be borne by all; trust in me will be sacred.
If I am unwilling to sacrifice, unable to commit to the principles and lifestyle befitting a
professional soldier; I understand that I must leave. In doing so, I will join the masses
of citizenry that depend on others to keep them free. All this I swear to that which I
hold sacred.