MLB Draft & Service Academies

As the rules sit right now, which are the same rules that have been in effect for several decades...

A person may apply to resign their commission and separate from the service after 2 years of service. This is what more famous graduates like Napoleon McCallum and David Robinson did after graduation from the Naval Academy.

After graduation, new 2Lt's get 60 days of leave. If drafted, these officers spend their 60 days playing MiLB ball and then leave their teams to begin their military obligation.

CPLZ,

Was the rule that a graduate of the military academies at one time that the graduate had to serve four years before being released. I seem to remember Roger Staubach of the Cowboys serving more than two years and even going to Viet Nam. I may be wrong and it might have been two years even then.

I'm not sure what the rule was back then. Even if it was 2 years, that didn't mean that you had to get out, you could serve your full hitch.

That being said, the full hitch is longer now than it ever was. Todays full hitch is 5 years, up from 3 years back when I was a child.

I don't think Staubach served in Nam, but Rocky Blier did, although not as an Academy graduate, just as a grunt, 11B, HOOAH! (I'm compelled to say that ) I think Roger served during Nam.

The services were a different place back then. If you were a celeb, you could basically just opt out of combat arms in favor of safer zones. Not all did, Ted Williams jumps to mind (although I hesitate to call aviators frontline combat , compared to us dirt eaters). These days, the military is very sensitive about favoritism. As an Academy graduate you get your choice of duty based on class rank. There are limited numbers of openings for each job, and as they go down the list, the options diminish as job slots get filled. In times of war, the combat arms are the first ones to fill, in times of peace, they are the last. That being said, plenty of highly ranked cadets opt out of combat arms in favor of other endeavors, including JAG (Lawyers), support services, financial, MP's etc.

I've always found it heartwarming and inspiring to know that in America's time of need, the first slots to fill are Aviation, Infantry and Armor. Those are toughest of the tough jobs in brutal conditions and hostile environments...and there's a fight to get those jobs.

CPLZ,

Just out of curiousity, I looked up Staubach and Wikipedia said he was drafted in 1964 and began his pro football career in 1969 after a stint in Viet Nam.
I thought I remembered him talking about throwing passes in Viet Nam to keep his arm in shape. Totally agree that the young people that serve are very inspiring as well as courageous.

TB,
You are probably correct...I am old and my memory fails me some...although on the upside, I am finally growing into my decrepitnous...

EDIT...
I did some digging and there is some consistency to the claims that he spent 1 year in country.

Staubach won the heisman in 63, which means he graduated from Navy in 1964. That left somewhere around four years before 1969 came around, depending on how you count. Edit: Actually he was a junior when he won the heisman.

I think it was at least late 70's or mid 80's before the exceptions or whatever you would call it for professional athletes came into existence.

quote:

Originally posted by Pedropere:
I think it was at least late 70's or mid 80's before the exceptions or whatever you would call it for professional athletes came into existence.

The common misnomer is that the exception exists for athletes. It is an exception for (paraphrase) "People with exceptional qualities". The exception has been used for music, physics, medicine, and many other specialties where the military deemed the attributes of the individual or exceptional quality.

Department of Defense policy states that an active-duty service member pursuing professional sports must serve a minimum 24 months. At that point, an individual can apply for early release. Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Several conditions must be met, including the individual being assigned to reserve unit and the situation having potential recruiting or public affairs benefits.

From article on Greg Flynn, USAFA hockey player playing minor league hockey. He only plays home night games. He was fortunate to get a day assignment near the team. full article

Thanks for the responses!

And good article RJM, thanks for that!

mstcks,

Sorry you had to wade through a lot of stuff before you got your answer.

hehe, I've not waded through, but rather enjoyed. I think I'll leave the wading for the HSBB Webbers down in Florida!

Although the Navy formerly would place athletes in duty stations favorable to the individual (Like placing Oakland Raiders draft pick Napoleon McCallum nearby), those days are long gone for the Army and Navy. These days, you will serve your duty at a post/base of their designation, without regard to anything other than military need. Their philosophies take new directions in times of war and they become hyper sensitive to appearances of favoritism. Either the Air Force doesn't subscribe to the same ethos, or that is the luckiest officer on the planet.

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:
Although the Navy formerly would place athletes in duty stations favorable to the individual (Like placing Oakland Raiders draft pick Napoleon McCallum nearby), those days are long gone for the Army and Navy. These days, you will serve your duty at a post/base of their designation, without regard to anything other than military need. Their philosophies take new directions in times of war and they become hyper sensitive to appearances of favoritism. Either the Air Force doesn't subscribe to the same ethos, or that is the luckiest officer on the planet.

I'm guessing he was passed over in the draft due to his military obligation.

"Upon returning to Hanscom in early December, Lieutenant Flynn’s dream of playing professional hockey became a reality. He signed an amateur tryout contract and first practiced with the Devils, the top minor league affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, on Dec. 8. His first game came on the road in Manchester, N.H., Dec. 19."

Flynn played Junior A before heading to the Air Force Academy. That makes him a potential pro prospect. Hockey players tend to get drafted at eighteen and nineteen years old. Then the team holds the rights for several years. I think every team passed on this guy and the Devils saw an opportunity given his assignment.