Posted on 12/15/2019 5:12:38 AM PST by Libloather
President Trump was greeted with loud applause when he was introduced before the 120th Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Trump took the field with Defense Secretary Mark Esper for the singing of the national anthem and then participated in the coin toss, sporting a red "Keep America Great" hat.
Before the game, the president visited both locker rooms, where he shook hands with players and announced an executive order that would allow athletes at the military academies to go directly to NFL after they graduate and delay their service. Right now, players must first complete their service before they can pursue a professional playing career.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Not a god decision, IMO. Why did they seek appointment? To play sports to serve their country? Maybe its best they go the sports, then they can pay off the debt easily when they renege on the “service” part.
Millions of dollar contracts for 5-10, 5 years and then serve? Yeah. Not.
Beat up, tired old men re-entering the services at 30s as an 2LT/Ensign? Okay. Waste of a training seat.
At least they’ll have the bucks to pay it back n cash. Maybe.
Yes, indeed- Staubach performed his US Navy service. The service is part of the LEGAL AGREEMENT to received US Govt. paid military training in leadership and command, technical skills (Army is usually engineering- subspecialties, as is Navy in Nuc Power and engineering).
It is a legal agreement, which the President is abrogating for the benefit of a private business... professional football. This is frankly, truly not supportable. Our Service Academys are not “free education” pre- professional sports training camps. One more example of the DOD and their “leaders” co-opting the Beltway, now sports, bandits.
We are training war fighting leadership for the Defense of the Country.
Even if a sports team can “hire” straight out of USNA or West Point—and pay back the cost of the 4 years— IT STILL remains that however many admission slots are eliminated from EXCELLENT candidates (who have the BRAINS we need) being tossed aside.
In view of the recent murder ,by a Saudi “ally” of a just- graduated USNA officer whose first billet was Aviation training to be a US NAVY pilot—at NAS Pensacola— which was followed by Trump’s “announcing the Saudis have expressed their deep sorrow....” crapola-— this is absolutely STUPID beyond belief. Tone deaf, in fact.
Someone who wants to go into the NFL-— SHOULD NOT be doing so by getting a political “Appointment” to West Point or the USNA (which we KNOW is done for the sports abilities in specific cases outweighing the BEST and BRIGHT academic qualifications).
Roger Staubach could and should speak on this subject. It is simply wrong, Mr. President. And you should try to tamp down the television mentality behind it.
FROM A NAVY family- every war we have ever fought, incl. Revolutionary.
OK- all FReepers here— Here’s an example of the idiotic “civilianizing” and applying social engineering to our US military.
Hunter Biden is, with his father’s obvious influence at the time-— MADE INTO by Direct Commission—a US Naval officer, without so much as completion of an OCS passage!! This happened— because of influence. Now someone think about how, US taxpayers paying for the formal Service Academy education— for ANY kind of sports playing admitee— should be allowed to Skip their Service Obligation Contract— to play professional sports. What does this say to our troops,sailorsm airmen, coasties about the Officers they DO have to obey? They will respect some field runner who NEVER becomes an officer, but “made it” in the NFL. How incredibly stupid a thing to promote.
” Two people familiar with the situation said Biden, 44, was discharged because he failed a drug test last year. They weren’t authorized to discuss the incident by name and requested anonymity. The Wall Street Journal first reported Biden’s discharge and failed drug test.
An attorney by training, Biden applied to join the Navy Reserve as a public affairs officer and was selected in 2012 — one of seven candidates recommended for a direct commission for public affairs. A board of senior Navy officers interviewed Biden before making the recommendation.
Because he was 42 at the time, he needed a special waiver to be accepted. Cmdr. Ryan Perry, a spokesman for the Navy, said Biden had been assigned to the Navy Public Affairs Support Element East, based in Norfolk, Virginia.”
A special waiver-—— now for a Service Academy sports player to SKIP their service obligation? No. This is simply not right. Appallingly stupid thing to do.
Adding to prior comments here about the “skip service” Exec. Order....
Contrast this also from the reverse- Pat Tillman turns down a 3.6 Mill contract renewal with the Cardinals- to enlist in the US ARMY following 9-11, and his brother Kevin (who also turned down the Arizona Cardinals to train with Pat to become Army Rangers!!. Then there is Bob Kalsu, who played a season with Buffalo Bills, and left to complete his ROTC obligation from Oklahoma- qualified in 101st Airborne,killed by mortar fire 8months after arriving in Vietnam 2nd Lt.
FBO Kalsu in Iraq named for Bob Kalsu. The services remember these things. As part of “Good Order and Discipline” that perfumed princes lecture about (like the former SecNavy Spencer who was a minimal service Marine, who was basically a a Wall Street liberal, with pals in govt. contracting, frankly).
Choices. Look how much the libs hate the military, and why give them a weapon by continuing the “civilianizing”. All of which is part of the Alinsky points to weaken our Republic.
Dilute the value and the honor of our Service Academys. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Incredibly stupid.
Well is that not what QB’s do, run? Also do not forget Tom Brady is starting to, let’s just say, is starting to “age” . Have to think about the future.
I disagree with the EO allowing them to play before completing their service.
That’s one of the understandings if you go to one of the Academies. You know what you’re signing up for.””’
I agree with Trump==
I cannot think of many military positions that are ‘time sensitive’ for a qualified person to fill. IF anything, that extra maturity would be a bonus.
They can certainly get in 20 +++ years in the military, fulfilling their promises AFTER playing in the NFL.
NOT SO the other way around.
I think another sports pro who graduated from the Navy Academy, did his time in the Navy and went on to play pro in the NBA, David Robinson.
Dilute the value and the honor of our Service Academys. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Incredibly stupid.>>>>
I believe an uproar about this is coming. And you can feel the deep rumblings on the political Richter scale.
Our President must act to arm the watch security on all US bases, military academies and vessels of the US Navy. We are at war.Like it or not.It has two fronts, against the Clinton Obama cadre in the US Military, and the Jihadhists/Leftists who infiltrate our military.
He has a window before it blows up into a volcano.
Remember Foot Hood, and especially in the cold blooded murder of one female female soldier, who was wounded then dispatched with a shot to the head after one through the womb.(Why is that perp Nidal Hasan still breathing God’s good air? He was sentenced to death!)
Its time to wage this war within the military and without.
My thoughts too......Even tho Staubach served his six years after graduation, he was able to be signed by Dallas. It's easier to stay in condition if you're a QB than another position player.
if they turn out to be good enough for the pros, let them repay the military for the cost of their education.
He coached there in the early ‘80’s. So did Saban.
Perhaps they can do National Guard type service in the off-season.
One part of the war will end in 2020, with the re-election of PDJT. The economy is still doing well and the Dems shot themselves in the feet with this impeachment circus.
Yes, and Trump can order the method for his death penalty to be carried out. The greatest dishonor in any military— death by hanging. Not firing squad, not injection. Hanging. Public witnessed hanging. He has been sentenced there should be no further delay.
Hang Nidal Hassan== do it now. And also, every person in knowledge of his behaviour and posturing who did not report this to US Security Military— they should be demoted several ranks, and if civilian, fired, no pension.
Time to wake up.
Fwiw, Army Regulations state that ANY service-member, DAC or WG employee, who is at least 21YO & “of good character”, may be “sworn in” & armed as a Post Game Warden “after suitable training”.
(Game Wardens are recognized as LE Officers under federal law.)
Note: At least at that time, there was NO “approved DPGM training curriculum”, so we created our own “out of whole cloth”. = The lesson plans were written by the Chief of Range Control, with the assistance of a DoD Police SGT, who was also a member of the local ARNG Pistol Team.
Our handgun range qualification for DPGW was the SAME as is required of members of the DoD Police.
As I had NO more money to pay for more DoD Police or even DoD Guards, the Post Deputy Game Wardens were the ONLY “affordable” solution to get us more “armed boots on the ground”.
In case you are wondering, I originally got the PDGM appointed because we had a SEVERE on-post POACHING & BURGLARY problem.
We were having 2-5 buildings being LOOTED each week at that time.
Furthermore, one of the PGW caught a poacher in MAR 1989 with 14 POACHED deer in the bed of his PU. - He was “jacklighting” the deer, “over bait”, with an UNREGISTERED & UNLAWFUL Remington “suppressed” Model 572 rifle & selling the meat.
(Fyi, the “local civilian” was indicted, tried, convicted & sentenced to federal prison for POSSESSING an “unregistered NFA weapon” but was never tried for poaching our post’s deer.)
After a while, I came to the conclusion that the “general security” & “personnel protection” aspects of our ad hoc program was at least AS VALUABLE as dealing with our severe B&E & POACHING problems were.
Yours, TMN78247
USAMPR, Retired
me too...
You need a job in the West Wing as a Presidential aide.
THANKS for the flowers, my friend.
Nonetheless, I wouldn’t live in NOVA, suburban MD or DC for any amount of money again, as I’ve “done my time in H.”, i.e., Ft Lesley McNair in DC & at “The 5-sided Puzzle Palace”, too.
(I had MORE THAN ENOUGH of all 3 places, including the MISERABLE weather & HATEFUL people, too.)
Yours, TMN78247
USAMPR, Retired
The call is not yet strong enough, LOL.
But I certainly do know what you mean.
I too am an old war horse, but in a different venue.
Stay loose and enjoy yourself.
WILCO.
WELCOME HOME, brother-in-arms.
Yours, TMN78247
USA, Retired
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