Military College Football Players and Active Duty

Howdy all! This may be a confusing question, but to those who participate in college football teams at military academies, are they also considered active military or do they have a different status?

Hello! College students who are participating in football teams at military academies are typically not considered active duty military, but rather they are cadets or midshipmen. This is basically a fancy term for a student at a military academy.

They're in training to become officers in the various branches of the U.S. military and while they do undergo meticulous military training alongside their academic classes, they are not technically on active duty while they're enrolled at the academy.

Upon graduation, they typically receive a commission as a junior officer in the respective branch of service and are then considered active duty. They'll generally serve a term of service in return for their college education.

So although while they're at the academy they're not considered active duty, they do have a military status in a way, just a different one: they're officers-in-training. Hope this clarifies things for you!