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May 21, 2008, 06:56AM

Army Changes Service Rules For NFL Draft Pick

The U.S. Army made special rules to allow a soldier to play for the Detroit Lions, forgoing his active duty service for recruiting benefits. That's great news for the player, yet is this just another distraction from the deafening toll the war in Iraq is taking on our military? Should we really be giving trained officers a pass when the Army is taking criminals and high school drop outs to meet recruiting goals?

"As an avid sports fan that was in the United States Navy for over 10 years prior to coming to this fine educational institution, I have some pretty affectionate feelings towards everyone who has served and currently serves in our armed forces, including athletes at the service academies.

After all the bureaucracy, red tape and downright lunacy I saw in the military, the powers that be have definitely done something right. The Army recently implemented a rule stating an athlete that graduates from their academy can play professional sports, if drafted, while continuing to play the part of a recruiter.

That rule will be put into effect for the first time this year as Caleb Campbell, a safety from Army, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of April's NFL draft.

Campbell will, each and every Tuesday, be required to talk to local high schools and groups about the benefits of joining the Army. As an ex-recruiter myself, I can say this: recruiting in Detroit just got a heck of a whole lot easier, that's for sure.

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