tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post3706765096634443354..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: West Point Screws UpDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-20294582353807006052008-04-03T08:12:00.000-07:002008-04-03T08:12:00.000-07:00I am a West Point graduate. I understand the argu...I am a West Point graduate. I understand the argument about football, I just don't share it. The Mission of the Academy is not to train football players for recruiting duty, it's to train officers for service. It's entertaining to me how the army *adds* years to an officer's service commitment when that officer gets a graduate degree, but will let out a pro athlete because of some amorphous benefit that *might* accrue to recruiting.<BR/><BR/>How would I like deployments? I sought them when I was a lieutenant. In fact, even after I got out I tried to get a civilian job training the Saudis because I had so many friends in the desert in the prelude to Gulf War I.<BR/><BR/>Taxes don't need to be raised. Backbone must be sought.<BR/><BR/>Who do you think would scold you for espousing your thoughts? Highly inappropriate, whoever it is.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-12817704422463871102008-04-03T07:45:00.000-07:002008-04-03T07:45:00.000-07:00I am a West Point cadet. You have to look at the ...I am a West Point cadet. You have to look at the intricate situation the Academy is in. Most of our funding does not come from the federal government; it comes from the Alumni. Winning Army Football games is very important to the funding of the Academy, because if we do not win games, graduates become reluctant to donate. For example a multi-million dollar indoor practice facility was just built. It was paid for by graduates. Allowing some athletes to go pro will allow West Point’s name to become better known, and the option to go pro will increase talent for recruitment. That in turn increases funding for the Academy's mission. West Point used to be made up of men like Pete Dawkins, that caliber of person is difficult to obtain in today’s society. Encourage the nation’s children. Tell them that military service is good. You as parents make the sacrifice and push your sons and daughters into harms way. I do not see that happening anytime soon. Maybe you should write your congressmen/women and complain that taxes need to be increased to pay a Private in the Army more than 1600 dollars a month to lay his/her life on the line protecting your freedom. How much are your monthly salaries and do you willing offer your life? How much would someone have to pay you to conduct 15 month deployments every other year? This is an anonymous posting because I would be severely scolded for espousing these ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-8948018258717424632008-03-31T03:10:00.000-07:002008-03-31T03:10:00.000-07:00When recruiting athletes in order to have a winnin...When recruiting athletes in order to have a winning season becomes more important than training officers, something is very wrong. I fully understand that serving five years after graduation limits who can be recruited, but I don't consider that a drawback.Fritz J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07964038461331789981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-85697077601284480252008-03-30T21:04:00.000-07:002008-03-30T21:04:00.000-07:00Scouts are already in junior high schools. There i...Scouts are already in junior high schools. There is a kid in Seattle in the paper a month ago who is already being followed by scouts. He plays against kids 4-6 years his elder and holds his own.<BR/><BR/>It's getting worse daily. Fortunately, this kid is an honor roll student.Dr Pezzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09160506091556539766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-29927409784692155732008-03-30T17:08:00.000-07:002008-03-30T17:08:00.000-07:00My alma mater just got a commitment from a sophomo...My alma mater just got a commitment from a sophomore in high school. When I was a soph I didn't have a clue about what I wanted to do with my life. I can only imagine what the pressure is like for these kids. Of course, becoming a pro in high school is the next option. I agree with your post. It does seem that the service acadamies are losing sight of their mission. I wasn't intelligent enough to get into one, but my son was. He opted out because of the service requirement. Little did he know all he had to be is a great athlete and that wouldn't have applied to him.Law and Order Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11069306257334186404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-86581982603521694832008-03-30T15:00:00.000-07:002008-03-30T15:00:00.000-07:00I wonder how Roger Staubach feels about that. He s...I wonder how Roger Staubach feels about that. He served out his term in, I think, the Navy and the Cowboys held his spot until he finished. But then again, ESPN is talking about televising high school football. If there's enough revenue to do that, then there's enough for school districts to be able to cut them loose financially. Professional goals are seeping down to high school, how long before we see scouts at junior high games? You say it's crazy, but then who would have thought that high school sports would be advertised and shown on TV?Ellen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845981491726296767noreply@blogger.com