| My own humble position on this is that the policy to release professional calbre athletes from their service obligation is wrong, period, full stop, end of story. I don't care if they are "poster children" for recruiting.
The only disrespect to the fallen is being committed by military leadership - in this case the Army - that has endorsed the policy. I really don't want to see USNA, USAFA and USMA become "football factories" who release players who are drafted. The policy is wrongheaded and inconsistent with the mission of any service academy, let alone one with the history of West Point.
I'm not buying Shogun's argument that West Point has a harder time recruiting because of the war, and that Navy and Air Force have it easier because their graduates will be less likely to be in harm's way than West Point grads. Here's why:
I read the gomids.com board regularly and occasionally wander over to the Army site. After last year's A-N football game, there was a huge "hue and cry" from the Army supporters about the service selection of the Army football players who were showcased in the promotional spots during the game. There were a lot of "Air Defense Artillery" selectees, while it seemed that a majority of the Navy players were selecting "Marine ground" - i.e. "infantry". Many of the posters seemed to be ashamed that the football team wasn't selecting infantry or a more "in harm's way" type of MOS. I have no opinion on that, just pointing it out.
As to the argument that "if Caleb Campbell had left after his sophomore year..." - "if" is the biggest word in the English language.
"If" you have a child at a military academy who is not a professional prospect, you have to come to terms with the possibility that s/he may be killed in the service of his/her country. I have had more friends killed or seriously injured in peacetime aviation training and operational accidents than in this war. Granted, most of my classmates are past their flying days, but it's a fact of military life.
Somebody in Congress needs to put a stake through the heart of this policy and stop it. |