| Caleb Campbell doesn't appear to be like Kyle Eckel in any way, shape or form - and Navy grads are not all in agreement of how that went down. Besides, it's a completely different type of situation too complex for this thread. From what little I read, Cadet Campbell seems to be an outstanding young man faced with a really tough dilemma, and I wouldn't wish that choice on anyone.
If he chooses the Army - the 'grunt' Army over the NFL - some people will undoubtedly second guess his choice for the rest of his life. "You coulda been an NFL star."
If he chooses to follow the majority of his classmates into Combat Arms, I would be willing to bet that he will earn the respect of the majority of the country, even though the relative obscurity of life as a line officer in the Army pales in comparison to the potential glamor of the NFL.
It's not his fault the choice is there for him; others have made the choice possible, and he should certainly consider it. He's playing by the rules as they exist today, but again I would say, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
I honestly doubt that his impact as a recruiter will have the type of impact to recruiting and especially retention that is being bandied about by those who think ASO is a good idea. I'd be willing to bet that a West Point trained 2LT will have a much larger (if less publicized) impact to the men and women he might lead in a line unit than in the NFL. |