Just days before the Army-Navy football game, officials are sending a message to student-athletes reminding them that their service comes before anything else. professional sports.
This week, congressional leaders included as part of their annual defense bill language adaptation legislation that states that the two-year extension of service to after graduation from a service school becomes “a violation of the agreement to work as an officer.”
Since 2019, Defense Ministry officials have allowed some athletes to apply for a waiver to play professional sports immediately after graduation, a process that delays their service. Lawmakers now want to stop that.
In explanatory language for the proposed legislation, they called the current policy governing school sports “convoluted” and said that granting exemptions to the rules is unconstitutional. what schools are designed to do.
“Service school assignments are a zero-sum game,” they wrote. “Every appointment that goes to a graduate who has not yet completed his or her active duty to pursue professional sports could be given to many other qualified youths. they would have served their country with pleasure.”
The potential change in rules regarding collegiate athletes appears to be big for Army linebacker Andre Carter II, who is seen as an option in the start of the National Football League next year.
The Black Knights have had only two NFL draft picks since 1969, in the seventh and final round. Carter was viewed by some scouts as a potential first-round pick. But the new language of the authorization bill could change that sign, given the uncertainty over his chance to play in the next few years.
“It’s a great opportunity to go to this school,” Carter, a senior from Missouri City, Texas, told NFL reporters when asked about life at West Point. “Not many people get this opportunity, so it’s something that’s really valued and appreciated.”
One day after the waiver clause was released, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired former Naval Academy pitcher Noah Song from the Boston Red Sox.
Boston selected Song in the fourth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft – the highest Naval Academy baseball player selected – but he has been unable to play for the past few years due to his service record.
Lt. Junior Grade Song graduated from aviation school earlier this year, and applied for an exemption to play professional sports later.
Congress is expected to finalize the authorization bill, which includes $817 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2023, in the next few days.
The Observation Post is the Military Times one stop shop for all things duty free. Stories can reflect the writer’s point of view.
Voices include Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focuses on military and veterans policy. His work has received numerous awards, including the 2009 Polk award, the 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Early Bird Brief newsletter for Military Times. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
