This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
Without me, my rifle is useless.
Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy
who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me.
I will...
My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war
is not the rounds that we fire,
the noise of our burst,
nor the smoke that we make.
We know that it is the hits that count.
We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I am human,
because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths,
its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel.
I will ever guard it against the ravages
of weather and damage as I will ever guard
my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready.
We will become part of each other.
We will...
Before God I swear this creed.
My rifle and myself are defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace!
Amen.