By: Ben
Posted: 01 May 08
Article abstract: This week I noticed an NFL draft athlete profile on ESPN about a West Point cadet. Turns out the Army is letting "exceptional" individuals forego their obligated service to become PR generators while pursuing their other interests (in this case, pro football). But in reality, this is a great way for the NFL to endorse itself with the sacrifices of other soldiers while the Army destroys equitable military culture. |
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| 1. | mchalbe: | On one hand the Army is brutally ridged in demanding the maximum terms of service contracts. But in this situation they liberally and flexibly interpret what constitutes service. But its merely "psychological", right?
1. How will he fit this two year requirement in with NFL training camp and cross country travel during the season?
2. How does 4 years at west point and no real world Army experience qualify him as a revered Army cheerleader?
| | 2. | alrob11: | I couldn't disagree with you more. As long as this kid is serving, in any fashion, it’s a credit to the Army and soldiers everywhere. There's no guarantee he was going to go serve in combat anyways. Actually, I’d say the chances of him becoming some kind of training officer were more likely. I served two tours in "combat zones" and never picked up a gun, I ate MREs only occasionally and I even stayed in a four-star hotel for one tour. Does that make my service any less honorable?
| | 3. | Ben: | Your service is without question honorable; I'm taking the Army to task for comparing playing NFL football and doing PR stunts during two off seasons to fighting a war. The point I'm making is about equity. Perhaps I went too hard on the warfighting stuff- the main issue is that the arrangement is unfair and erodes the sense of impartiality that the military is dependent upon. I put an entire non-military career on hold to serve my country, I'd expect West Pointers to do the same.
| | 4. | cflava5: | I was linked here from a blog discussing Caleb Campbell's draft story. I'm so surprised that given the substantive nature of your site, more sites haven't linked to it. You hit the nail head on with the Palestine issue. I've long believed that it has to be one of the most important issues facing the next government and although i'm a moderate conservative who supports everything free market and smaller government intervention, i'm most likely going to vote Obama because of foreign policy.
| | 5. | natsfan74: | Two Notes: Campbell was not a highly recruited college prospect coming out of high school. He was a marginal prospect (that's why he chose USMA over, say, Texas) who worked hard for 4 years to become an NFL prospect. And, after 2 years, if he wants to stay in the NFL, he has to pay the Army for his tuition. So, he has a 2 year window to make it in the NFL. The other academies doe this without publicity. A Navy RB (Patriots) even scored against Dallas last year. Where was the outrage then?
| | 6. | Ben: | Good points Natsfan74; in that case, ALL the academies should eliminate this policy. Again, regardless of how these kids find their way out of the military- be it through the NFL or New York Philharmonic, my point is that this special treatment is unfair and damaging. It's less about one 21-year-old's career choices and more about the policies that enabled them. Americans should demand an impartial, equitable military and we must provide it by policing our own.
| | 7. | jim: | well written, as always.
the sad thing that I keep getting stuck on about all this is that basically, this kid makes the team, which from a PR perspective I can't fathom him not doing, he's gonna be making at least $285,00 next year as his classmates potentially serve in the war.
| | 8. | scalz1: | Spot on. I can take nothing away from this guy for working his ass off to get in the NFl. Hell, even the clause he's using is legal. But the principalities of the matter is the crux of this argument. West Point is not easy to get into, by any means. That being said, I'm sure Campbell could of got into an institution of his choice. Why West Point ? To be a US Army officer.
If he makes an NFL roster, he will definitely be wearing the wrong uniform.
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