What's the deal with football players at military service academies and service commitment?

If a football player gets into a military service academy, are they required to serve in the military after graduation like everyone else? Or are there exceptions for athletes, especially if they go pro?

Football players who attend a military service academy are indeed subject to the same service obligations as their non-athlete peers. This typically means a minimum of five years of active duty service following graduation. However, policies can vary slightly between the academies.

In recent years, the Department of Defense has established a policy that allows some athletes to defer their military service in order to play professional sports. This policy is not solely for football players but applies to all athletes who have the opportunity to turn pro. The idea is to capitalize on the marketing value these athletes bring to the military, as they can help promote recruitment efforts while playing professionally.

Here's an example: if a professional football career is on the horizon for a graduating player, they might request a waiver to defer their military service and immediately pursue this opportunity in the NFL. If the waiver is approved, they would serve in the reserves while playing professionally. After their professional career is over, they'd fulfill their active duty obligation. It's important to keep in mind though that this is not guaranteed and is determined on a case-by-case basis, and the ultimate decision lies with the Department of Defense.

In general, the academies emphasize the role of all cadets and midshipmen as future military officers first, and athletes second. The chances to defer service for professional sports is not the norm, and most graduates of these academies fulfill their active duty service commitment before pursuing any professional athletic careers. The academies' primary purpose is to develop leaders of character for service to the nation.