Four '22 Mids Allowed to Pursue Professional Sports

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brewmeist

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I'm still not sold on this. Assuming a cost of $400,000/Mid as is given by many sources, it cost $1.6 million to put these four individuals through USNA, Only 6 or 7 out of every 100 appilcants get an appointment, so I can't imagine USNA needs the publicity. The stands will have the same sized crowds regardless of a winning or losing season, so the win-loss record isn't any issue. I know they will eventually fulfill their obligation, but at what capacity?

I do not blame these Mids for pursuing their athletic dreams. I'd do the same thing. I just do not see the cost benefit to the tax payer. Will there ever be a published study to show that this is all worth the montetary cost?

www.stripes.com

Linebacker Diego Fagot among 4 Naval Academy athletes who receive permission to pursue professional sports

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III issued the approval Saturday in accordance with Directive-Type Memorandum 19-011. That policy allows service academy graduates to pursue employment in professional sports immediately following graduation.
www.stripes.com www.stripes.com
 
I imagine the Navy policy is the same as the Army policy (DOD). I have not read it, but my understand is they are permitted to pursue a professional sports career, but they still have a military obligation after their professional career. I think it kicks in after a year without a professional contract.
 
brewmeist said:
I'm still not sold on this. Assuming a cost of $400,000/Mid as is given by many sources, it cost $1.6 million to put these four individuals through USNA, Only 6 or 7 out of every 100 appilcants get an appointment, so I can't imagine USNA needs the publicity. The stands will have the same sized crowds regardless of a winning or losing season, so the win-loss record isn't any issue. I know they will eventually fulfill their obligation, but at what capacity?

I do not blame these Mids for pursuing their athletic dreams. I'd do the same thing. I just do not see the cost benefit to the tax payer. Will there ever be a published study to show that this is all worth the montetary cost?

www.stripes.com

Linebacker Diego Fagot among 4 Naval Academy athletes who receive permission to pursue professional sports

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III issued the approval Saturday in accordance with Directive-Type Memorandum 19-011. That policy allows service academy graduates to pursue employment in professional sports immediately following graduation.
www.stripes.com www.stripes.com
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I wouldn’t be surprised if at least 2, if not 3, of them will be in uniform and commissioned before the end of summer.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
I imagine the Navy policy is the same as the Army policy (DOD). I have not read it, but my understand is they are permitted to pursue a professional sports career, but they still have a military obligation after their professional career. I think it kicks in after a year without a professional contract.
Click to expand...
It is the same policy. But what if they are in their late 20s or into their 30s by then? Will they have the same job that they would have fresh out of school? Will the skills and knowledge be there? I'm not even arguing. I am truly curious what will happen.
 
The justification is that having alumni in pro sports is good for recruiting and the Academy’s brand. I’m not sure I agree with that, but as long as they fulfill their service requirement after their athletic career, I don’t have an issue with it. Yes, they’ll start out as a fresh Ensign or 2nd Lieutenant once they’re done and go through the training pipelines and earning qualifications. Being in late 20s or early 30s isn’t a problem, as many prior enlisted officers are in this age range when they commission, and they do great. Don’t need to worry about time passed since undergrad, because they won’t use any of the academics in their career, they learn what they need to know at TBS/Flight School/Nuke School/BDOC and on the job.
 
That's an interesting turn of events. Didn't a midshipman actually get denied going to the NFL within the last couple years?
 
I've got mixed feelings...I don't disagree with having a pathway to pro sports, but it should be extremely limited. David Robinson is my standard -- he did more for the Naval Academy and US Navy than most individuals who serve their minimum comittment and leave, but he was a very unique case. The problem is trying to predict who will be the next David Robinson or Roger Staubach.
 
Back in the day growing up during the dark period called Black and White TV military sports, not just SA sports, were a very big deal.

The AD military had serious football teams that played college schedules, our military boxers were feared and respected around the world, we had Lt Billy Mills stunning the world winning the 10,000 meters. And so many more AD teams plus SA teams that dominated nationally.

I think these were great advertising and recruiting tools. And advertisement aimed at tough fit competitive athletic young males and females.

And we can never have enough of those trying to enlist or get a commission.


Lets face it we have had recent threads on those going awol, and suicides. and the constant threat of combat deployments maybe more in the way of military sports at a national level is a good thing,
 
I'd be good with it as long as they make a professional squad and still have to complete their military commitment (no buyouts) at sometime in the near future (barring medical injury disquals)- if they don't make the squad then they are right back into their active duty. I believe it is a BIG time PR tool that should be leveraged vs restricted.
 
I'd also say that improved PA/PR could be had- a lot of people know that David Robinson was a great NBA player, some of those know he was nicknamed "The Admiral", very few of those actually know why. Versus a lot of people know that Pat Tillman (RIP) was an NFL player and was in the military- I don't believe the military pushed the PA/PR, I believe it was fans, the Cards, and ASU. Given, we shouldn't be tooting a horn too loud, especially in respect to the fallen, but in general I believe it would be good to have greater exposure for the academies and sports at the academies. E.g., in the Marines I never, ever watched the Army Navy game- I don't personally know anyone that did- that shouldn't be the case, every jarhead, sailor, and soldier should be interested in that game IMO, not so much about the individuals, but about espirit de corp and such. My .02 and that is what it is worth.
 
I think any Mid/Cadet who is at that level in their respective sport should at least be be given the chance. These kids devote their whole lives to the sport, and it means a lot for families and communities back home to have one of their own make it to the big leagues. Personally, as long as they serve their contract, I don't see a problem.
 
Usually, a lot of midshipman that do get recruited by professional sports teams oftentimes don’t even make the roster especially the last 4-5 that chose to forego commissioning or put it on hold to go pro. A lot of them graduated, but were undrafted free agents and that’s really bad. When you’re an undrafted free agent, they’re saying you’re OK, but we found someone better. A lot of them wound up not making it including that one kid that was making all that fuss that they wouldn’t let him play in the NFL. That should’ve clued the kid in when the defense secretary wouldn’t let him go-he knew what was going to happen and knew that he wasn’t that great to join. Each one of them are now back in the navy.
 
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