USNA grad signs with MLS

The Marine Corps will get its pounds of flesh, likely in the required years of Reserve service. They will optimize use of him for public affairs and recruiting purposes for the physical fitness aspect, as well as whatever his MOS will be.

This has been going on for decades, with much controversy and many policy shifts, as well as diverging practices among the SAs.

I am not particularly a fan, but I am not the one doing the value-added analysis. I am fine with those who do full active duty first, then are transferred to Reserve duty and are free to preserve full-time pro sports. That doesn’t happen often anymore.

I recall one Navy football player some years ago who was not released but had to go to AD. I am not sure of the interim details, but somehow he was separated and did the six-figure USNA payback from his signing bonus with the pros.

It’s hard to know where to draw the line.
 
Capt MJ said:
The Marine Corps will get its pounds of flesh, likely in the required years of Reserve service. They will optimize use of him for public affairs and recruiting purposes for the physical fitness aspect, as well as whatever his MOS will be.

This has been going on for decades, with much controversy and many policy shifts, as well as diverging practices among the SAs.

I am not particularly a fan, but I am not the one doing the value-added analysis. I am fine with those who do full active duty first, then are transferred to Reserve duty and are free to preserve full-time pro sports. That doesn’t happen often anymore.

I recall one Navy football player some years ago who was not released but had to go to AD. I am not sure of the interim details, but somehow he was separated and did the six-figure USNA payback from his signing bonus with the pros.

It’s hard to know where to draw the line.
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It's a bad look to me, not so much because of the fact that there is a pro opportunity, it's more because I wouldn't really consider being drafted into the 3rd tier of US Men's Soccer the spirit of the NDAA authorization. When you consider the other Mids what went this route via soccer (that either never played, or played one season intermittently) being able to fulfill your ADSO in the reserves so you can go into a farm system is really a stretch. I would *maybe* get the recruiting angle is this was MLS, MLB or the NFL, but not some farm league.

With that being said, the real issue on the horizon with sports and NIL is the fact that SA's still have 2 for 7. That needs to be reigned in to at least match the ROTC requirement of the 1st day of your 3rd class year IMO. I think you will see way more athletes do their 2 years for free and then transfer without any obligation especially if they improve significantly over those first two years. With all of the transferring that is already happening, (and will certainly continue to get worse without some sort of legislation) spots are going to free up at programs that will allow service academy cadets and midshipmen to easily slide into with 2 years of eligibility left.
 
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gonavy14 said:
In my opinion, it's pretty easy to know where to draw the line. Don't allow any. You signed up to serve in the military, not to go play football or soccer. Reserve time isn't equivalent.
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I agree with you. The reality is, sports is a HUGE part of American and global culture with a LOT of money riding on it. There's no way any SA, or college would give any piece of that pie up. I'm not saying I agree with it, but that is reality.
 
Why not??? Good for him.

I support any young person especially a Midshipman or Cadet pursuing their dreams.

Now, why can't Navy recoup some of the expense of educating him? I don't have a problem with that either, and if say an athlete goes pro and his pro contract is an extremely lucrative one, said athlete should be made to cover at least a portion of his education. This would be addition to serving as a recruiting tool and reserve status, that would be ok with me.
The part of college athletics that is now most challenging to the academies is the payment to student athletes. That part still needs to be ironed out where academies are concerned, I think.
 
It’s not an “either or”. Those who go the pro route still have to fulfill the obligation when their career is over.
The military has a long history of permitting soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen to compete and coach athletics.
George Patton trained for and competed in the 1912 Olympic Games.
Eisenhower spent time after graduating from West Point coaching high school and college baseball.
Arther Ashe fulfilled his military service as a tennis coach at West Point.
Since 1997 the Army has had the US Army World Class Athlete Program. I think Sam Sullivan, USMA 2020 and one my my DD’s teammates, has been a great spokesperson for the military playing rugby for the US Team.
 
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