Trump on Service Academy Waivers

[Hawkmoon]

Here's one where I absolutely disagree with the Prez:

https://www.newser.com/article/91b1a907ae594986ae73d85a75d31bad/trump-wants-to-restore-waiver-for-service-academy-athletes.html

The Prez wants to allow graduates of the U.S. military academies to pursue a career in professional sports immediately after graduation, and serve their required two years of active duty only after their professional career has ended.

I can't support this. These people are getting a top notch education completely free. If they're any good as pro athletes, their careers could last for ten, fifteen, maybe even twenty years. As one example, Roger Staubach was an Annapolis graduate. He did his two years, then he played for eleven years with the Dallas Cowboys. He was born in February of 1942 and he graduated from Annapolis in 1967, so he was 25 at the time. Add eleven years to that for a pro career ... I can't see the Navy having much use for a 37-year old Ensign.

I think people who are pursuing pro athletic careers should skip the service academies and just take their scholarships at one of the big farm system "universities."

[Jamisjockey]

Here's one where I absolutely disagree with the Prez:

https://www.newser.com/article/91b1a907ae594986ae73d85a75d31bad/trump-wants-to-restore-waiver-for-service-academy-athletes.html

The Prez wants to allow graduates of the U.S. military academies to pursue a career in professional sports immediately after graduation, and serve their required two years of active duty only after their professional career has ended.

I can't support this. These people are getting a top notch education completely free. If they're any good as pro athletes, their careers could last for ten, fifteen, maybe even twenty years. As one example, Roger Staubach was an Annapolis graduate. He did his two years, then he played for eleven years with the Dallas Cowboys. He was born in February of 1942 and he graduated from Annapolis in 1967, so he was 25 at the time. Add eleven years to that for a pro career ... I can't see the Navy having much use for a 37-year old Ensign.

I think people who are pursuing pro athletic careers should skip the service academies and just take their scholarships at one of the big farm system "universities."

It's a publicity stunt for the service academies. The odds of making it from any university to the pros are still low enough that it might affect what, a few dozen graduates a year?

[MechAg94]

I guess this would allow the service academy to recruit better athletes?  I am not sure if that would really help them.

[Jamisjockey]

I guess this would allow the service academy to recruit better athletes?  I am not sure if that would really help them.

Status and advertising.  Putting out pro athletes would get more people interested in the service academies. 
Not sure it's necessary, but I don't see the need for the pants-shitting that the OP is having over it, either.

[RoadKingLarry]

I'm in agreement with Hawkmoon.
Maybe a caveat,  if they go pro after the academy they pay back the costs of their education.

[Ben]

Status and advertising.  Putting out pro athletes would get more people interested in the service academies. 
Not sure it's necessary, but I don't see the need for the pants-shitting that the OP is having over it, either.

I'm not sure it would be the right kind of interest, given how regular universities are happy to graduate functional illiterates as long as they're good at kicking a ball around. People joining to go pro-sports and make millions of dollars are maybe not the best fit for a military academy, and the code and responsibility that goes (or should go) with being commissioned and having lives under your command. JMO.

[TommyGunn]

I don't like this either.   I think the military service comes first,  then,  fine,  try out for sports.

[RoadKingLarry]

I'm not sure it would be the right kind of interest, given how regular universities are happy to graduate functional illiterates as long as they're good at kicking a ball around. People joining to go pro-sports and make millions of dollars are maybe not the best fit for a military academy, and the code and responsibility that goes (or should go) with being commissioned and having lives under your command. JMO.

The Supply Officer on my last boat was an Annapolis grad that went on a sportsball plan of some sort. Never did get the whole story but he wasn't a line officer.
Other than that he was about as useful as teats on a brick.

[Perd Hapley]

I don't like this either.   I think the military service comes first,  then,  fine,  try out for sports.

This. I appreciate those who volunteer to serve our country, especially today. But academy grads should serve their country before, not after, they get chewed up by professional sports.

[T.O.M.]

Academy grads commit to a minimum of 5 years active duty service at the start of their third academic year.  Grads serve as officers. Fail to graduate and you incur an enlisted commitment.  Length of commitment for grads may be longer, depending on what type of service (I believe aviators commit for 8 years) or further education (medical school, law school). 

There are some good athletes at the academy. Some have the talent to go pro.  But even those athletes, or the vast majority, are at the academies to serve, not to prep for a pro sports career.  I disagree with the President.  A waiver is unnecessary. It is possible to serve and then go pro, like Roger Staubach and David Robinson.  A waiver is not in the military's best interests, as it is throwing money away with no return on investment.  And it will do nothing but allow academies to recruit athletes who have no real interests in serving, who probably wouldn't make it to graduation anyways.

Chris, United States Military Academy Class of 1991

[Perd Hapley]

You mean we paid for your education, and you ended up being a lawyer? Sad!

[T.O.M.]

You mean we paid for your education, and you ended up being a lawyer? Sad!

You paid for my undergrad. Thanks for that. Law school was all on me.

[Perd Hapley]

You paid for my undergrad. Thanks for that. Law school was all on me.

Yes. We gave you the degree, and you turned on us, and used it to get into the swamp. 

[T.O.M.]

Yes. We gave you the degree, and you turned on us, and used it to get into the swamp. 

Where else would a grunt feel more at home than a swamp( I was an 11A, straight leg Infantry officer.)  Stinky, slimy, lots of snakes and lizards.

Don't worry, I'm really just a country lawyer. 

[BobR]

Where else would a grunt feel more at home than a swamp( I was an 11A, straight leg Infantry officer.)  Stinky, slimy, lots of snakes and lizards.

Don't worry, I'm really just a country lawyer. 

So you will take various farm animals and home canned foods for payment?


bob

[RoadKingLarry]

Where else would a grunt feel more at home than a swamp( I was an 11A, straight leg Infantry officer.)  Stinky, slimy, lots of snakes and lizards.

Don't worry, I'm really just a country lawyer. 

You forgot the toads. What the hell kind of swamp would you have without toads?

[Scout26]

As a non-academy commissioned officer, I really don't care.   The sportsball academy recruits still have to meet the same academic and other requirements of the academies.  The most famous two Staubach and Robinson only served 2 years of active duty before going off to Pro sports.

I have no problem with academy grads going straight into sportsball, then fulfilling their service requirements when their playing days are done.  And yes, a 37 year-old Ensign might actually know his ass from a hole in the ground.