Black Knights and the NFL Draft - affecting our N*s

from the Annapolis Capitol:

Army policy drawing heavy service flak
By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published April 30, 2008

Caleb Campbell was a four-year football standout at the United States
Military Academy, a hard-hitting safety noted for his rare combination of
size, speed and strength. On Sunday, Campbell was selected by the Detroit
Lions in the seventh round of the National Football League Draft.
If Campbell makes the Detroit roster next fall, he will be allowed to play
in the NFL immediately due to a relatively new U.S. Army policy that allows
soldiers with "unique talents and abilities" to participate in professional
sports while serving as a recruiter.

"My duty right now is to play football, and that's what I plan on doing,"
Campbell said yesterday during a conference call with the media.

Two other current Army seniors - fullback Mike Viti and punter Owen Tolson -
signed free agent contracts with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants,
respectively. They also hope to take advantage of the program, which was
instituted in April, 2005 when Francis J. Harvey served as Secretary of the
Army.

Campbell, who will be commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation,
selected air defense artillery as a service assignment and said yesterday he
would likely be deployed as a platoon leader commanding approximately 32
soldiers in Iraq or Kuwait had the NFL opportunity not arisen.

"When I came to West Point, I wasn't saying, 'I hope they make a new policy
so I don't have to go to Iraq.' I knew what I was getting myself into. I
knew I was going to be a platoon leader one day leading soldiers into a
potential combat situation because I enrolled here during a time of war. I
knew exactly what I was getting myself into," Campbell said.

"Over the last four years, that's what I've been preparing myself for.
That's what I've been instructed to do. All of my summers here at the
academy have been military training. I'm just fortunate enough to have the
opportunity to play football because of my career here at the academy. I did
enough to get drafted and pursue this career as a football player."

Graduates of the Air Force Academy and Naval Academy are not being afforded
the same opportunity. Those two branches of the service are adhering to a
Department of Defense memorandum, issued last August, entitled "Alternative
Service Option." That directive, authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert
M. Gates and implemented on Jan. 1, 2008, states that "officers may apply
for excess leave, after serving a minimum of 24 months of the current
obligated active duty periodŠ for the purpose of pursuing a professional
sports activity with potential for recruiting or public affairs benefits."

That Department of Defense policy allows athletes that remain in
professional sports to serve six years in the Army, Air Force or Naval
reserves in exchange for being released from their remaining three years of
active duty.

Some officials with the Air Force and Navy think Army is violating the
spirit of the Department of Defense initiative by stating that a
professional athlete who serves part- time as a recruiter is fulfilling the
two-year active-duty commitment.

"Clearly, we believe soldiers who are serving under this policy are indeed
still serving, but in a different capacity," said Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb of
the Department of Army Public Affairs.

Naval Academy athletic director Chet Gladchuk has grave concerns about the
Army policy, which allows varsity coaches at West Point to tell prospective
recruits they could potentially avoid military service if they are good
enough to play professional sports.

"Army has redefined active duty to include playing professional sports. This
new policy gives Army an astronomical advantage from an athletic standpoint
and has already made an impact on recruiting," Gladchuk said. "Our coaches
are now operating under a significant handicap when recruiting head-to-head
with Army. It may not be reflected on the playing field today, but I can
guarantee you that it will result in a competitive disadvantage down the
road."

Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo agreed that Army's ability to
entice recruits with the NFL option could have severe repercussions on the
balance of power among the three service academies.