<p>The way I see it; the academy accepts international students for the sole purpose of attending the school. They don’t have a commitment to the Air Force. I assume that their native country somehow pays for the education. I say, if a professional sports team such as football, baseball, basketball, or whatever finds an academy athlete that they want to sign for the pros, then let them buy him/her back from the military. We’re talking about a profession where they literally can receive millions of dollars to play. If the NFL, NBA, ML, or whatever team wants the athlete, they can pay a buyout fee of $1 Million for the athlete. Plus, the athlete has to still do 5 years in the reserves/guard. Then everyone is happy. The pro sports league gets their player. The athlete gets his/her career. The Academy didn’t waste money. They still have a guard or reservist. </p>
<p>I don’t believe in a waiver situation. Those who go off to medical, law, etc… will use that training and education to better the military. No amount of time in the Major league, NFL, or NBA is going to contribute to the betterment of the military, national security, or the United States as a whole. (No, I don’t believe it’s a good recruiting/PR tool) So, if the team wants them, have them pay for them. $1 Million seems like the perfect number. $250,000 for the education they got. $250,000 to pay for the education of the cadet that they will replace him/her with. $250,000 for the 2nd Lieutenant who we now have to wait 4 more years to fill the slot of. And $250,000 for the inconvenience and the slot that another applicant didn’t get but wanted. </p>
<p>Now, if the pro league doesn’t want to pay for the athlete, then too bad. Part of going to the academy and joining the military is to learn integrity, honor, commitment, and service. Live up to your commitment you made, have the honor to stand proud for what you agreed to, have the integrity to keep your word when you signed the paper, and provide the service to your fellow citizens in the United States of America who’s tax dollars paid for you to go to school.</p>
<p>Anyway, that’s the opinion of an old retired Air Force guy. Yes, a sports career is a dream come true. That however should have been considered before accepting an appointment to the academy. Let’s realize something that most people forget. Cadets that have been accepted to the academies are NOT normally the students that would have gone to a local community college or many state colleges. (Unless the state college is quite impressive and noticed like UCLA, UT, etc…). The cadets offered an appointment usually have the grades, ACT/SAT, etc… to be accepted to most schools in the country. If sports was also in their background at that level, they could have also been offered scholarships, grants, loans, etc… The vast majority of cadets had many options to go to school other than the military academies. If they really wanted to pursue a career in sports, they should have looked at a different college or university. Later… Mike…</p>