| Kyle Eckel's situation was not handled properly and it really isn't any different than what is going on now. Rumor has it that he actually had under a 2.0 and he definitely was a conduct problem. It's situations like this that should be prevented in all services, not just the Army!!!
If we send an athlete to "recruit" via professional sports....what are we saying about the military? Are we really recruiting people for the right reasons? What is the relationship between someone serving in the military...or in this case...really never serving...and military service? How can you identify this professional athlete with any military experience (other than ROTC/SA)? Furthermore, if too many kids are turning down the Army because of the risk of death/injury...then aren't those kids be unaffected by a professional athlete?
How come the Marine Corps can recruit without utilizing a professional athlete? I believe its because of the tradition and the "right" to earn the title...it's the title that attracts the students, not the athlete. The Marine Corps is suffering on the front lines, just like the Army.
My point is....we, as a military, need to stop sugar-coat recruiting. We shouldn't be glamorizing the professional athlete...because unless they have served previously, they aren't really representing the military.
And I agree, we shouldn't be back-stabbing other services...I just see no benefit to this DoD policy and we are pitching our recruiting efforts solely to grab students based off of someone who can play sports....not someone necessarily off the warrior ethos...someone who has proven themselves. It would be different, if say, someone after 5 years of service decided to go pro...then there would be some legitimacy. |