If you’ve served in the UK Armed Forces, there’s a good chance you’ve taken an oath – but maybe not quite like this.

In front of thousands of American Football fans at the home of Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs, recruits from the US Marines, along with those from the Army, Air Force and Navy, stood on the pitch for their Oath of Enlistment.

They were joined by serving Marines who reaffirmed their oath which was read out by Brigadier General James A Ryans II, Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region.

Brig Gen Ryans said: “Today we as Marines reaffirm our commitment to the wonderful people of this nation.”

He then told the recruits and personnel to raise their right hand for the oath and repeat after him.

Reading the oath, he said: “I, [state your name], do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will obey the orders of the President and the officers appointed over me, according to regulation and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

The oath, which received a warm welcome, was taken at half-time between the Chiefs’ thrilling 16-14 match against the Denver Broncos earlier this month but footage of the rousing ceremony has only just been published by the US Department of Defense.

It was part of the Kansas City Chiefs Salute to Service game celebrating the 249th birthday of the US Marines Corps.

The US Marines also led the ceremonies before the game, with a service member singing the national anthem and a flypast by Osprey aircraft.

Other NFL teams hosted enlistment ceremonies as part of the annual Salute to Service event which celebrates the US armed forces over a period of a couple of weeks.

On Sunday, 150 new personnel from across the US military took the Oath of Enlistment at the New England Patriots stadium ahead of a match against the Los Angeles Rams.

In the UK, all members of the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines swear an oath of allegiance to the King as head of the Armed Forces.

However, members of the Royal Navy have never been required to swear an oath – the service was formed hundreds of years ago and its existence stems from the Sovereign’s prerogative.