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When the Detroit Lions used a seventh-round draft pick on Army safety Caleb Campbell in April, Department of Defense policy allowed West Point graduates to avoid active military service if they had the ability to become professional athletes.
Now the Department of Defense has changed that policy, and Campbell will not be able to play for the Lions.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote a letter to Lions president Matt Millen today, saying Campbell has been ordered to give up football for “full-time traditional military duties.”
Under current Department of Defense policy, Campbell will be eligible to request release from his active duty obligations in May 2010. At that point, he would have to reimburse the Army $120,000 for his West Point education and enroll in a reserve unit for six years.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Directly from the GoArmySports web site:
Tolson, Viti, Campbell and Trimble will have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot because of the U.S. Army’s Alternative Service Option. Under guidelines of the program, the players will be allowed to play football with their respective professional organizations while assigned to recruiting stations for two years as long as they remain under contract. Should they retain professional contracts following two years, they will be offered the option of “buying out” the remaining three years of their active-duty commitment in exchange for six years in the U.S. Army Reserves. Campbell, Tolson and Viti will join baseball standouts Nick Hill and Milan Dinga, as well as former Army hockey goalie Brad Roberts as recent West Point graduates currently enrolled in the program.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
2 words….PAT TILLMAN, you join with the same honor you should serve
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July 23rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I hope he doesn’t die.
I guess the Army doesn’t want anyone who dreams of playing in the NFL to join the Army. Yeah, that’s hardly anybody.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
This is just another example of the military being stupid. This guy could get his neck broken on the playing field and his family could get millions. But instead, he could get killed in Iraq or Afghanistan and his family will get $400,000….Good call Army! That’s a fine recruiting tool you just used! Now millions of people reading and watching the article, mainly young Americans between the ages of 17-24, (a huge target age group for the military by the way)that if they join the military or go to a military school, the same could happen to them.I served my time in Iraq honorably, so before you open your big mouths and try to call me un-patriotic,know who you are talking about. I think that it is a wonderful thing for a man or a woman to serve their country, but at the same time , there must also be exceptions. This man has a chance of a lifetime to do something that many Americans can only dream of.So I am done ranting for now… Three words, LET HIM PLAY!!!
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July 23rd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
This decision is total bullshit. The person(s) responsible for this decision should at least explain the reasoning behind it to help us understand why it was made. Just another reason why this political administration had set this country back (in every conceivable way)
light years that’ll take two more to rebound.
Enough of the political rant, I feel bad for the guy. But, if anyone saw him on draft-day, he’ll no doubt take it in stride with no ill regrets.
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July 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
bondem777,
I served as well……USN….USS Leahy CG-16, Desert Storm….ie VFW. So, what is your point about “serving”? I KNOW what it means to, possibly” die serving your country for the education they give you…….WHATEVER that education may be.
1) hikebowski is correct. There are more students…..and LOTS more “jocks” getting free rides (state and federally funded) at state universities then there are in “the academy”. IF “the academy” had more “scholarships” that did not include possibly giving your life, there would be more recruits in the armed forces. Again, there are many pell grants being used by people who may never do anything to repay them. That is not wrong either….as long as the government allows it……
2)Based on #1 above, don’t blame this kid for taking advantage of a policy that the government allowed and then reneged on. True, when in the service, you ARE government property and they can change their, collective, mind and send you overseas…….to die. BUT, you have NOT heard this kid say he did not want to serve. You only saw him do something, which, at one time, THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWED. Don’t condemn the kid for for taking advantage of what WAS allowed. Anyone would attempt to.
Hardrada : It changes EVERYTHING. He only did what was allowed by the government. He did not try to fight the system. THIS only brings to light the fact that the government WILL and DOES lie to you when you sign. They lied to me as well. No matter, I STILL love my country and am PROUD I defended YOUR right to say dumb sh*t like you do. I served….not the way I expected, but, I was there, could have died, and have NO regrets. Again, don’t condemn him for what, at one time, was allowed. Being a doctor is also a non-military skill…..but MANY “brains” do not get the scholarships that atheletes do. Fact of life, get over it.
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July 24th, 2008 at 12:41 am
eff the army on this one. What a scumbag country we live in. And anyone who says its better then other countries, whatever, maybe we have some freedoms, but we have just as many sanctions as anyone else. What a way to screw someone over. If i was campbell i would get discharged for smoking weed or something. F it.
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July 24th, 2008 at 2:10 am
This policy exists to encourage would-be athletes not to rule out joining the army. It’s not about individuals like Campbell who make it in the NFL or another pro sport - it’s about the ones who *think* they will. How many 17- or 18-year old kids believe they’ve got a shot at the NBA or NFL? Thousands do. How many will actually make it, and make it onto a team? A few. If this policy doesn’t exist, a lot of these kids aren’t even going to be willing to consider a career in the army. If you force a teenager choose between a chance at a dream and reality, they’re going to pick the dream, regardless of how realistic their chances are. The solution is to make it so kids aren’t forced to choose. This policy isn’t Caleb Campbell. It’s about the hundreds of potential soldiers who believe they’ll be the next Caleb Campbell.
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July 24th, 2008 at 3:11 am
This is what you get when you join the armed forces. You sell the rights to your life, and all that it entails, for an easy out. It’s all bullshit, but the man knew what he was getting into.
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July 24th, 2008 at 6:20 am
well, at least he won’t be fighting in a senseless war….oh…never mind.
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July 24th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I agree fully that this is BS! I served on active duty for 10 years and I can’t believe this decision? Worst case we’re talking about a handful of guys!
Maybe, the Army (my outfit) is over-reacting here. If they can’t get enough “boots on the ground,” without 1 LT. then we’re in big trouble!
Why have the possibility for the Academy Grads, to participate in professional sports? That’s the Army way! The big pressing issue is why change the rule now? It looks like they’re trying to make an example of this one Grad… Now, how many recruits will scratch the Academys off the College list? I would! There are many ways to serve your Country. The are many ways your Government can alter your life because they feel like it!
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July 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am
TerpEagle says:
“Is changing around of deployment orders and service requirements a common thing?”
It happens all the time, especially these days. I’ve seen people report to an Army post, then get shipped to the front lines 3 months later.
I wonder if the Army waited to see who Campbell got drafted by, saw it was the Lions, then changed their mind. I’m kidding, but just a little bit. I think Campbell could have been the best recruiting agent the Army had. It would show kids that just because you join the Academy doesn’t mean you don’t have a shot to go pro. So the Army essentially shut the door on a lot of high school athletes that might have previously considered the Academy. Sort of the opposite of what Campbell as a recruiter in Detroit could have done.
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July 24th, 2008 at 9:05 am
For all you retards sending hate mail in reply to my comment , thank you! But it just proves my point. Now, where did I say that he tried to get out of it? Where did I say he tried to fight it? Where did I say that I have regrets? I didn’t you friggin Idiots! I simply said, in longer form of course, that by the Army making up this stupid rule at the last minute, just before this guy was to possibly become a millionaire, is absurd! And don’t talk to me about patriotism, I’ll bet you stand there and gladly sing the song written by Lee Greenwood, who by the way, dodged the draft during Vietnam by running to Canada.So don’t talk to me about subjects you are not familiar with.I served my country honorably,proudly and faithfully for 10 years.But I decided that I can do my country a greater service, by being a productive citizen.If you wanna stay in til’ Armagedon, I don’t care!Your choice. I am merely stating a fact. The military makes stupid mistakes…..and stupid investments all the time. This is going to be an absolute PR disaster! Why don’t they just come out and say it in the recruiter office,”Hey man, you could go to the NFL, we’re gonna pull you at the last minute and screw you without any lube, but you can get your hopes up,No harm in that”.For all of those that applaud what I have to say and agree that this is a very stupid mistake by the Army, you rock!
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July 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am
First and foremost, this was not the Army’s decision; this was forced on the Army by the Department of Defense. I would not be suprised to see this decision reversed.
Secondly, the kid was not getting out of his commitment; He had to make the team in order stay in this program. While in the program, he would have to serve as a Recruiter. Believe me, the Army would be getting their pound of flesh.
I’m an Academy Grad currently serving. I thought this program was a great idea. If he had even got two more people to sign up that would have otherwise went somewhere else, it would have been worth it. I suspect it would have been much more successful than that.
GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
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July 24th, 2008 at 10:25 am
WAbronc says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
“All of the branches recruit sports players just like all of the other colleges. …. I believe that since they are able to recruit with the promise of being able to play, he should be allowed to. ”
This is 100% incorrect. Only the Army added the policy to allow West Point graduates to play professionally and work in recruiting stations in the offseason. The Navy and Air Force said no to it immediately. The policy implemented by the Army was only implemented this year so no players were recruited using the policy (except perhaps some of the incoming freshman but they can get out now with no penalty). This policy was nearly universally hated by current and former military men. The DOD had nothing to do with also (for the 20 posters who blamed them). The Army made a policy change to allow the men/women to play professionally, and then after a short review they reversed this. Sure, the kids got there hopes up and that sucks, but they have had high hopes for what, 60-90 days at this point and prior to that they knew for 4 years that they would be going to active service in combat. This is not going to screw these kids for life or ruin there lives. They made a commitment and they will proudly follow through. You don’t go to a service academy to become a professional athlete, you to go become a leader. They will go into the field and must deal with many more order changes of a greater magnitude in a day than this. Again, it sucks that the Army changed direction, but the men in question were being given a gift that they should not have received so grandfathering would mean nothing since any new policy should have only affected incoming freshman and if the policy was changed on them they would deserve grandfathering.
It would have been nice to have
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July 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I’m not going to dispute what is right and what is wrong. I went to the Academy and played football. All I want to know is one thing. It’s obvious that this is a public pressure issue (Army Football being the most visable sports program for the Army)and the public loves looking at things only for face value, but how can you tell an individual you have an opportunity only to rip it away at the last minute. I don’t here anyone complaining about the Army World Class Athlete Program where individuals with special talents in Olympic sports serve their time training in Colorado for an Olympic competition that at times is four years away. Nobody is complaining about those individuals.
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July 24th, 2008 at 11:33 am
THIS IS BUSH’s FAULT !!
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July 24th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Further proof that the army sucks.
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July 24th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I tell you what Ladies and Gents, The Army screwed the pooch on this one. If they do reverse their decision, it will show that they do see this as a PR nightmare. But the general public, regardless of what the Army decides, will see that this “Military Academy” is not a place to go and play sports, If they expect to take their sports career to the next level.If you wanna join the Army,Fine. Great. Grand.I personally don’t care too much for military colleges just for the simple fact that I know for a fact that the officers I have come into contact with, that were prior enlisted were much smarter than the “educated ones”.Not that they are any less educated in a book sense,The officers who are prior enlisted know what it’s like to be an NCO and have to make life and death decisions in a split second,and work late nights and weekends,ensuring troop welfare,training requirements,counseling….you name it! I’m not stereotyping West Point Grads.I am simply stating first-hand facts from first-hand experience.
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July 24th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
usmc485,
I TOTALLY agree with you. Although I do not any idea about West Point because I was in the Navy, I remember seeing “officers” down in MY engine room (I was a “snipe”….in the Navy, more feared then a man with a gun….LOL) who were book smart and clueless as to what to do during “crunch time”……and I don’t mean the “rookie” officers. I mean officers who had been in for a while.
Part of that was the military’s fault though. Naval Officers did a “tour” of differnt areas of a ship so they could eventually be a captain of a ship. Granted, some were brilliant and would make great captains….However, MOST were not.
While I would never try to put myself above an “Armyman” or Marine since I was in the Navy and could “pound the shores” from hundreds of miles away and THEY are right in the thick of the battle, I DO understand what you mean by officers who were not enlisted FIRST.
I always laugh when I watch “Aliens” (Alien part 2). The marine officer in that movie is EXACTLY what you (and I) have experienced. LOL.
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July 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am
chrisgags says:
This is 100% incorrect. Only the Army added the policy to allow West Point graduates to play professionally and work in recruiting stations in the offseason. The Navy and Air Force said no to it immediately. The policy implemented by the Army was only implemented this year so no players were recruited using the policy (except perhaps some of the incoming freshman but they can get out now with no penalty). This policy was nearly universally hated by current and former military men. The DOD had nothing to do with also (for the 20 posters who blamed them).
You are about 99% incorrect. This wasn’t the first year for this program. The first was three years ago. A baseball player (can’t remember his name) got drafted and played for a season. He’s now serving full time as a CPT.
When I was a Cadet, the Navy let both David Robinson and Napoleon McCallum go play.
The Army didn’t change their policy, the DOD decided to enforce theirs.
As a currently serving Academy Grad, I found “current and former military men” to be about evenly split on this policy, and about 90% against making this last minute change.
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July 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
We can’t trust the Commander in Chief, so it’s no surprise we can’t trust those further down the ladder.
Sure, the kid knew what he signed on for. He elected to go to West Point in the middle of wartime. However, they (being the higher ups) told him that if he were to catch with a team (professionally), he could pursue that activity. The policy is in WRITING. It’s a sad day, not because the kid couldn’t play football. That aspect is meaningless. But because one of our institutions of honor went back on their word.
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