This is Crap

It doesn't take a former military Public Affairs Officer to recognize that the story of Caleb Campbell was a coup for the Army. He was followed by ESPN on draft day, supported by servicemembers at home and abroad and was the picture-perfect recruiting poster soldier for a wartime military that's always seeking good stories.

Leave it to the military to ruin a good thing:

Army orders Lions draft pick Campbell to withdraw
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)—Caleb Campbell was a day away from practicing with the Detroit Lions and taking a step toward his dream of playing in the NFL.

“He was issued a helmet, ready to go,” coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday.

Now, Campbell is closer to joining his fellow West Point graduates in Iraq or
Afghanistan.

The hypocrisy here is incredible. The military clearly recognizes the value added to recruiting from news-gathering soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. How else would you explain the World Class Athlete programs or the Thunderbirds, Golden Knights or Blue Angels (or even the Tops in Blue).

The fact is that soldiers like Campbell are much more valuable to the Army in Detroit, playing for the Lions, than they are serving as another Joe in the field.

A couple observations:

• The Olympics will showcase soldiers on the marksmanship teams that do not have to deploy. The New York Times did a nice job covering these elite shooters.


• The Olympics will showcase an Air Force officer, Capt. Kevin Eastler, who's a racewalker.


• The Olympics will showcase at least one soldier, Sgt. Dremiel Byers, who's a Greco-Roman wrestler.


• The Air Force couldn't do enough stories about Bryce Fisher, a reserve captain who moonlighted as a Seattle Seahawk defensive end in the 2002 Super Bowl.


• An Annapolis Midshipman turned St. Louis Cardinals draft pick, Mitch Harris, didn't get the same treatment as Campbell initially did (or David Robinson or Napoleon McCallum did), and must serve his full, five-year commitment.


• Why hasn't anyone interviewed the McCain campaign about this policy? He and potential Obama running mate Sen. Jim Webb dealt with this same issue regarding the status of Robinson and McCallum. It'd be an interesting story to break from the campaign monotony.

Anyone in uniform can and should respect this special treatment. I bet most would be proud of guys like Campbell and Harris as they pursue stardom. I am and would be if I were still in uniform. Whenever their names show up in ink, they'll always be preceded by the words "West Point gridiron standout," or "Former Annapolis star pitcher." You cannot buy that kind of publicity.

At the same time, show me the warfighter that won't root for his comrades in Beijing. You can't, because there's nothing more patriotic than hearing the Star Spangled Banner on the medal stand; and when the gold goes to a military man or woman, it means that much more. Again, first-rate PR on a global stage when we need it most.

I recognize the armed forces are an egalitarian world, blind to race, class, culture or creed. That's a huge part of why we're so successful. At the same time, the military should do a better job as a meritocracy, and embrace the special talents of its individuals. Sometimes everyone can share in the success of a few.