I read with interest Mr. Ellingwood’s letter in the Jan. 27 Whidbey News-Times. As a former Director of Naval Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, Rhode Island, I administered the oath he quoted to over 4,000 Staff Corps and Nuclear Power officers. I am quite familiar with it.

The primary source, The Constitution of the United States of America, Article II, Section 2, clearly states: “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States…” Needless to say at that time there wasn’t an Air Force.

This obligates anyone serving in the military to obey the orders of the president. Anyone who has served in our military knows this. I believe the title of Commander in Chief is quite self defining.

Always go to the primary source.

Chris Picchi

CAPT, USN (Ret)