College athletes at the service academies may be able to bypass their mandatory military service requirements with Trump ordering an overhaul to the rule.
President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to develop a new policy allowing graduates of the country’s military academies to play sports professionally while deferring their military service obligations.
According to ESPN, the president cites their “small window of time they have to take advantage of their athletic talents during which playing professional sports is realistically possible.”
The military and sports have seen it’s fair share of star athletes join both their ranks. Much of the history between them is decades ago. Former Navy quarterback Roger Staubach served a tour in Vietnam before leading the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowls.
This decision will give a lot of military athletes more options after college. Two years ago, Air Force wide receiver Jalen Robinette hoped he could take advantage of such a rule before the 2017 NFL Draft, but one the eve of the draft, the military made it clear athletes would not be available to their teams for two years.
Now, Robinette hopes to make it with a team this season after his service requirements are completed. However, his appeal to prospective NFL teams won’t be what it was when he was two years younger. This goes back to the short window of time athletes have to pursue professional athletics, especially in the NFL. He can always go back to the military, but his time in the NFL is limited.
This is a rule that took too long. However, these athletes only likely have to wait 120 days until a new decision is upcoming. That is how long Trump has given the Pentagon to make the new policy.
This is great for both sides. Hopefully, this policy goes into effect in no time.