[Vision2020] No NFL for West Point Grad

[Tom Hansen]

In my opinion, this reflects integrity and commitment from those who 
enforce policy.

>From today's (July 23, 2008) Roundup Edition of the Army Times -

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Report: No NFL for West Point grad

By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 23, 2008 17:35:41 EDT
   
The Detroit Lions announced Wednesday that Caleb Campbell, a 2008 graduate 
of U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will not play in the National 
Football League, according to www.mlive.com, a Web site representing at 
least 27 newspapers in Michigan.

The announcement, which according to www.mlive.com is based on a Detroit 
Lions press release, follows a policy signed July 11 by Army Secretary 
Pete Geren that changed the Army’s policy regarding officers who are given 
the opportunity to play in professional sports.

The policy requires officers to serve at least two years on active duty 
before they are allowed to request an early release from their military 
service obligation. It also calls for Campbell and three other officers 
who are engaged in professional sports to report to training and then to a 
unit.

Campbell, a 23-year-old West Point graduate who was selected April 27 by 
the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the NFL draft, has been ordered 
to complete Officer Basic Course and report to a unit.

Under the old policy, if Campbell made the Lions team he would have been 
assigned to a recruiting unit in Michigan for a shortened commitment of 
two years on active duty.

In the past, the Army allowed soldiers to be released from active duty 
commitments to participate in pro sports and other activities that offer 
the Army a recruiting or public affairs benefit. Soldiers serving the two 
years on active duty could be assigned to the recruiting unit closest to 
the location of their sports team or activity. The soldier would then 
conduct recruiting activities to support the Army instead of, for example, 
serving in a line unit in Iraq.

In comparison, Mitch Harris, a Naval Academy midshipman who was selected 
by the St. Louis Cardinals, was ordered to report to his ship for duty 
after Navy Secretary Donald Winter ruled June 12 that he must serve a five-
year commitment.

Harris, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher with a 95 mph fastball, 
reported June 16 for two weeks of school at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., 
then boarded the amphibious transport dock Ponce, where he was to work as 
a weapons officer.

Also ordered to Officer Basic Course is Michael Viti, a classmate and 
teammate of Campbell’s who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. In addition, 
1st Lt. Brad Roberts of West Point’s Class of 2006 will no longer play 
hockey and report to duty as an armor officer at Fort Hood, Texas.

Second Lts. Milan Dinga and Nick Hill, 2007 West Point graduates who play 
for minor league baseball teams, will be placed on excess leave until 
their seasons end in September. They will then be ordered to complete OBC 
and report to units.

Dinga and Hill are being allowed to finish the season to minimize the 
litigation risk that may arise from breaching their existing players’ 
contracts by reporting immediately for active-duty service, Geren wrote in 
the memo.

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Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college 
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


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