127A-32. Officers appointed and commissioned; oath of office.

All officers of the North Carolina National Guard shall be appointed and commissioned by the Governor as follows, viz.:

(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided by the laws of the United States, the qualifications for appointment as an officer in the North Carolina National Guard shall be the same as those prescribed for the regular establishment, subject to general exceptions authorized by the Secretary of Defense.

(2) Candidates for appointment shall make written application therefor on forms prescribed by the secretary of the appropriate service, to the Adjutant General, State of North Carolina, through command channels for comment by endorsements thereon.

(3) No person shall hereafter be appointed an officer of the North Carolina National Guard unless the person has established to the satisfaction of a board of officers that person's physical, moral, and professional qualifications to perform the duties of the grade and position for which examined, subject to general exceptions authorized by the Secretary of Defense. The board shall consist of three or more commissioned officers of the appropriate service, appointed under regulations promulgated by the secretary of the appropriate service.

(4) Candidates appointed as officers of the North Carolina National Guard shall take and subscribe to the following oath of office:

"I, (First Name - Middle Name - Last Name), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of North Carolina against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will obey orders of the President of the United States and of the Governor of the State of North Carolina; that I make this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of (Grade) (Branch) in the National Guard of the State of North Carolina upon which I am about to enter, so help me God."