Whenever an officer shall act as a recruiting officer under written authority of the commander in chief, in the organization of a new company of national guard, the officer shall have power to administer the oath of enlistment. The commissioned officer in command of a company, battery, corps, auxiliary squad, battalion, regiment or brigade shall have power to administer the oath of enlistment. To recruits for regimental bands, the oath of enlistment may be administered by the commanding officer of the nearest company or battery of the national guard or by a civil officer competent to administer oaths.