Can Service Academy Players be drafted? Can they be drafted after their junior year like normal college players, without having to still give service?
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quote:Can Service Academy Players be drafted? Can they be drafted after their junior year like normal college players, without having to still give service?
I'm sure CPLZ and others will chime in. Short answer is currently "No" unless it has changed recently..
Currently, no. You must serve two years and then soldiers with special abilities may apply for discharge (ala David Robinson and Napolean McCallum from Navy). Up until two years ago, the answer was yes, you could leave the academy and go play pro ball immediately upon graduation. It was called the ASO (Alternative Service Option). It was rescinded after Navy made a stink because Army had the ASO and they didn't and Army kept beating them like a rented mule in baseball.
With a new administration (Obama) and new SecNav, there may be a change back to the ASO. There is nothing imminent though.
With a new administration (Obama) and new SecNav, there may be a change back to the ASO. There is nothing imminent though.
When a player is recruited to play for one of the academies, is there any negotiating in terms of where he will serve his two years or is it up to the branch he's with?
quote:When a player is recruited to play for one of the academies, is there any negotiating in terms of where he will serve his two years or is it up to the branch he's with?
Comes down to his standing overall in his class. Those higher ranked in academics, military, and physical standings are going to get first shot.
quote:Originally posted by Baseballdad1228:
When a player is recruited to play for one of the academies, is there any negotiating in terms of where he will serve his two years or is it up to the branch he's with?
Bulldog nailed it. Those two decisions, what his job will be and where he will be stationed ,are decided in two separate meetings the first semester of senior year. They are called, branch night, and, post night.
Then the possibility exists that a player could attend an academy and his first assignment could be in Iraq or Afganistan?
quote:Then the possibility exists that a player could attend an academy and his first assignment could be in Iraq or Afganistan?
Not sure about that. My understanding is that the graduate would be assigned to a branch and then to a certain post. He (in this case) would undergo speciallized training after graduation before reporting to his unit. If his unit is in Iraq or Afghanistan, then yes his first "assignment" could be in the Sandbox.
quote:Originally posted by Baseballdad1228:
Then the possibility exists that a player could attend an academy and his first assignment could be in Iraq or Afganistan?
Not only a possibility, a probability. It depends on the Academy also. Not as likely from the Naval Academy as West Point.
There are a number of different branches. Combat arms, infantry, field artillery, armor, aviation...would most certainly wind up doing several tours in the sandbox. In times of war however, these are the first branches that get filled up on branch night. In times of peace they are the last branches.
Direct support branches, MP's, transportation, quartermaster, would be a high likelyhood of overseas tours.
Indirect support, finance, intelligence, not so likely.
To answer your question directly...cadets are volunteering in droves for duty in the middle east. It's that ones that are lower in their class ranks that are not getting to go, and to tell you the truth, most of them are disappointed.
Thank you so much for the information.