Simply saying that having college sporting events around holidays is part of NCAA life. Schools only get a small say so on the schedule. As for the academy choosing yea or nay on the rest of the cadet wing attending games, that's part of academy/military life. I will say however that the academy is pretty considerate when it comes to major conflicts such as holidays. They do a pretty good job accommodating the cadets.
But I can't tell you how many times in my 20+ year military career I wasn't able to spend a holiday with particular family or friends. And contrary to what many people may think, their kids ARE IN THE MILITARY. It just so happens that their current JOB is "Student". But this isn't a case of "My kid is off to college". No, your kid "Joined the Military". S/He just so happens to have the JOB of "Student" at this particular time in their career. No different than my son, is graduated the academy in 2012, still has the JOB of "Student". Just like Hornet did before him and many others. Again; "Student" just happens to be their current job. I know many parents want to think and believe that their kid is in "College" and that they (Parent) can plan to do many/most of the things that a "Normal" college parent can do. When I got out of basic training in September (a hundred years ago), that's when I could start using leave. (Vacation time). We accumulate 2.5 days per month. I couldn't go home for thanksgiving or Christmas. I simply didn't have the vacation time saved up. The fact that the military doesn't calculate leave time for cadets and has automatic time off at thanksgiving, christmas, spring break, and summer is a lot more generous than any of the enlisted folks get coming out of basic training. And a lot more time off per year than any of the active duty members. (Officers and enlisted). Active duty gets 30 days vacation/leave time per year. Cadets get quite a bit more time off than that.
I'm not rationalizing or chastising anyone for being concerned about trying to make vacation plans for them and their kids (cadets). It's understandable, and by all means take advantage of all the time you can spend with your kids. Simply saying that the attitude has to be that "This ISN'T COLLEGE.... It's the MILITARY". Once you understand and accept that, then you can accept and appreciate more the time you can spend with your kids.