"Mattis Slams Door on Military Academy Athletes Immediately Turning Pro"

[The Bread Guy]

Who knew this was even possible?

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis scrapped a policy Monday that allowed some military academy athletes to turn pro right after graduation.

In a memo, Mattis said all graduates of the military academies and the Reserve Officer Training Corps will have to serve at least two years of active duty before being allowed to consider offers from the NFL, the NBA or other professional sports organizations.

"The military academies and ROTC exist to develop future officers who enhance the readiness and lethality of our military services," Mattis said.

"During their first two years following graduation, officers will serve as full-fledged military officers carrying out normal work and career expectations of an officer who has received the extraordinary benefits of an ROTC or military academy education at taxpayer expense," he said.

The action by Mattis reversed the Defense Department policy enacted in May 2016 that allowed promising military athletes to defer active duty to allow them to play pro sports.

The Mattis memo came four days after Air Force Academy athletes hoping to be drafted into the National Football League learned that the academy would not approve waivers that would allow them to join the Ready Reserve and sign with a football team.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana White said the change in policy would take effect for this graduation class ...

 

[tomahawk6]

Good move.

 

[Lumber]

Good decision, IMO. MILCOLs are "supposed" to exist produce military leaders. With regard to the  cadets who tried to get contracts with the major sports leagues; did they even attend these institutions because they wanted to join the military, or were they given spots specifically because their sports teams wanted all-star players?

 

[kev994]

You have to look at it from both sides though, the Colleges recruited these guys to play on the Army/Navy game and this was common practice, so the rug is being pulled out from under these guys.

 

[daftandbarmy]

You have to look at it from both sides though, the Colleges recruited these guys to play on the Army/Navy game and this was common practice, so the rug is being pulled out from under these guys.

Surf or fight? These tough life questions never go away, do they

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmErYWQ5noc

 

[McG]

You have to look at it from both sides though, the Colleges recruited these guys to play on the Army/Navy game and this was common practice, so the rug is being pulled out from under these guys.

The article states it was a policy that is exactly a year old.  These guys are not having anything pulled out from under them.  The only people who will have had the rules changed since they enrolled will be the people who graduate exactly three years from now.

 

[The Bread Guy]

... the Colleges recruited these guys to play on the Army/Navy game and this was common practice ...

I don't know as much about the American system as others here, but I suspect anyone "recruited" to a military post-secondary institution must know about that bit about serving in uniform afterwards, no?

Surf or fight? These tough life questions never go away, do they

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmErYWQ5noc

Hell, the video PROVES you should be able to do both  ;D

 

[tomahawk6]

These cadets are getting a free education at taxpayer expense. There are strings attached which everyone is aware of. Entry level pay in the NFL is over $450,000. So if a man gets drafted he has the means to repay the government if he doesnt want to fulfill his 5 year obligation.

 

[kev994]

Apparently I was misinformed, the old policy was that they could get a waiver and go pro after 2 years serving. Somewhat explained in his article: https://www.google.com/amp/taskandpurpose.com/can-service-academy-grads-play-pro-sports/amp/

 

[tomahawk6]

The policy has been all over the place in the past.I should have qualified my comment that the cadet/mid could have the option to repay the cost of his education or serve the 5 year commitment.In the case of David Robinson he was allowed to go pro but he served his commitment in the Naval Reserve. We are only talking about just a few cases and the cadet/mid signed a contract.