The three duties
- 1Duty to God and country — reverence and good citizenship, and to obey the Scout Law.
- 2Duty to other people — to help other people at all times (the service ideal behind the slogan, "Do a Good Turn Daily").
- 3Duty to self — to keep yourself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight (body, mind, character).
The Oath begins "on my honor" — it rests on the scout's own integrity — and asks a scout to "do my best." Read the full official wording at the source below, and confirm the current version.
Why it matters
- The foundational promise of Scouting, recited at meetings and ceremonies.
- The standard for "Scout spirit" at every rank.
- A framework for character — duty to God and country, to others, and to self.
Notes
- "Do my best," not perfection — the Oath is aspirational; a scout who tries sincerely is living it.
- "On my honor" — the promise is only as strong as the person making it; it rests on the scout's own integrity.
- Duty to self includes real wellbeing — caring for body and mind: fitness, learning, and good choices.
Going deeper
- Three duties, one promise. God and country, other people, and yourself — the Oath organizes a whole ethic into one sentence.
- "On my honor." The Oath rests on the scout's own honor — a promise as strong as the person making it.
- "Do my best." The most forgiving and demanding phrase in Scouting — you don't have to be perfect, but you do have to try.
Official source
The Scout Oath and Scout Law — Scouting America →The Scout Oath is a Scouting America ideal (trademarked). This page paraphrases its structure and meaning — read the official full wording at the source and confirm the current version. Duty-to-God content is non-denominational.