Right, that's a start. So what happened after that? I can't imagine every conscript had to swear an oath - given that most of them didn't want to be in the army in the first place - but would an oath be demanded at some point as they moved up the ranks?
I remember from Lejeune's memoirs that at some point he had to be formally presented and make a court bow, but I think that may have been when he was made a baron rather than for a military promotion.
Susan