Casey - no one is going to join the Army as a recruit because of this guy. How many sailors can the Navy say joined because of Napolean McCallum? Recruiting duty stinks but it is a lot nicer to go home to a hot meal and a clean bed than to dodge snipers and IED's. Dude is shirking his commitment. While I am not a fan of this War, that is not a matter of discussion for those in service - you do as ordered and salute the flag. Officers and NCO's in the military should be held to higher standards for the good order of the service. They are leaders, and as such, should act accordindly. Duty, Honor, Country are not just words to the vast majority of West Point Grads. I'd personally be embarrassed to shirk my duties and go play a game while my classmates were responsible for young men and women under fire. Hopefully, while he is nursing a few bumps and bruises from training camp, he can find time to visit Walter Reed and look a few truly brave young men in the eyes. Perhaps then he will realize the selfish nature of his decision.

You make some very good points. However, the real issue isn’t with Campbell. He is only taking advantage a loop hole that was put in place by West Point. I believe the real issue here is why the Army is allowing him to go to the NFL as apposed to serving. They claim it is to help them recruit more people into serving in the Army. I think that is bull. They are doing it to make their football team better. If kids believe they can go to West Point to play football and they will be allowed out of their commitment to serve if they make it to the pros, then better football players will sign up to play for Army. It is that simple. It is about winning football games.<br><br>The military academies have been and always should be about developing officers. Period. If kids want to play sports while they are at an academy then so be it. However, they should never for one second believe or be led to believe it is about anything other than preparing to be an officer in the military. <br><br>Like everyone else, the desire to win football games has compromised the values of those that run West Point. <br><br>If your plans are to play a pro sport, do not go to an academy. Go play at Maryland or some other University where it is common for athletes to put athletics before academics. If you want to be an officer and serve your Country then and only then should you attend a military academy. They do not pay for your education so you can go play pro sports!<br>(EDIT: All very good points, but if a kid is that good of a football player, he will have about 50 other schools he can play for before the Army.)

Honestly Casey I had not heard much about this issue in reference to Caleb Campbell.......I myself also served a total of eighteen years between active Army and Nat'l Guard. If anyone has an issue or questions this young man's patriotism because he will not serve overseas or in combat probably has never been in the military at all or very long. I stayed in long enough to become a senior NCO. Campbell will be a junior officer at recruiting depot that he will be assigned to. Being in a leadership position in the military no matter what branch is a challenge that very few people can comprehend. This blog isn't big enough for the stories I can tell. If Caleb Campbell can fulfill a dream of playing pro football and serve his nation at the same time... I say only in America and God bless him. Back in the eighties a Navy midshipman by the name of Napoleon McCallum who holds several NCAA and school records and is also a member of the College HOF, split his time between playing for the then L.A. Raiders and serving time a ship docked at Long Beach. He fulfilled his five year commitment and later returned to the Raiders only to have his career end violently on Monday Night football. Google his name is your interested and his injury is on youtube.

Casey..thank you for your honorable service. <br>I wish I could believe that this rule change was done for the betterment of the Academy, but I believe it was done for far less noble purposes. Recruiting in any field is difficult, especially in the military. Campbell will put in valuable difficult hours in the Army, just not as many, and perhaps not as difficult as many of his fellow classmates.<br>Separating people based on football skills harms the esprit de corps of the Academy. Separating people based on football skills emphasizes sport over other skills which may be more valuable, or for that matter, more difficult.<br>What if a 17 year old recruit took up piano in his spare time, and was truly a prodigy? His spare time was consumed by music, and by the end of his years at West Point, he was able to play some of the more complex classical pieces by Schumann or even Liszt. Should he be let out of any duty which might harm his hands?<br>Where does this stop? It is a dangerous path to travel.

Casey, I agree with you entirely. I was in for 9 years. Went to the 1st Gulf war and I have no problem with what he is doing. If the Army feels that it is better served with him as a recruiter and good will ambasador, then who are we to challenge that assertion. Drew and I totally disagree with each other and Bob from Parkville went on some diatribe lasting too long discussing this. I'd love to know what unit he served with. I'll bet he has no time in. Like you, I was there, saw the movie, ate the food, and got the program. I am proud of my service and proud of the Army. It is their call, not all these people who never served a day in their lives, pissed off that Campbell got a free education and now is not being sent to Iraq or Afghanastan. The Army looks at what its needs are and what is in its best interest. Take my word for it, I have been on the wrong side of the best interest of the Army. Bottom line, its their decision.

Very well spoken, Casey. I was never in the service but I have family members who were. I had a friend who graduated from West Point. All entered because they wanted a military career. Each took a different path; but they all received a top notch education and had to pay it back through service. Today, they are all doctors, because of the military. They all gave back 15 years of service. They were stationed everywhere. Caleb Campbell will give back his years of service, even if he opts out by paying back 3 years. He still has 6 years of reserves in which he could be called to active duty.<br><br>He is getting out of nothing. The Army will be paid back.

To the detractors of this blog: Do you really think that Caleb was sure he was NFL material when he signed on to the Academy? Of cousre not... so how can you say... go play at Maryland. To those of you who say recruiting is NOT the reason for the new rule... Do you have any idea how badly this war that we were lied to about so GW could avenge his the attempt on his father's life, or whatever his real reason( it's so obvious that it was not started to keep US safe) has affected recruiting? In case you didn't know it's doubly worse than it was during Korea or VietNam. AND the warmonger that he is(GW) is now trying to bully Iran.... how would we wage another war when we can't staff the present debacle? Thirdly "The Army is trying to get a better football team" ... does this not also increase applicants to the Academy? Even those who will NOT be NFL material? Casey, thanks for the "voice of reason" blog, as we have been subjected to "Bob from Parkville" rants which are simply Knee-jerk reactions, from many well intentioned people, who have simply not thought it through!