Do you think there are active duty servicemembers who could play collegiate sports post military service?

Sgt Alex Stone — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:08:47 -0400

The NCAA has a Military Service Exemption that states when a servicemember is on active duty, their eligibility is put on hold. When they separate they have the ability to enroll in college and play sports.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 2:10 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:10:27 -0400

I am certain there are some who could compete at the collegiate level.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 3 at 2016 2:13 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:13:32 -0400

I don't see why not? Why should someone be held back from excelling at something because they decided to join the Armed Forces before going to college?

Response by LCpl Michael Grogan made Nov 3 at 2016 3:27 PM

LCpl Michael Grogan — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 15:27:36 -0400

Absolutely. If I hadn't injured my knee while on active duty I was going to go back to my hometown and try to play for the community college after I separated. A service member should not be penalized for deciding to join something bigger than themselves.

Response by CPT David Gowel made Nov 3 at 2016 4:43 PM

CPT David Gowel — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 16:43:49 -0400

This sounds pretty significant, especially for vets who didn't finish school before they signed up to serve. Is this exemption only for a certain time period or does it expire at a certain age?

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 3 at 2016 5:14 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:14:24 -0400

Could? Then yes. I think if you look, some actually have.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 5:19 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:19:40 -0400

When I went to Arizona State, Bobby Winkles told one of our members than if he got permission to play he would start at 3B for the Sun Devils. The AF said no. So Sal Bando was the starting 3rd baseman for the NCAA championship Sun Devils. Sal went on to play MLB.

Response by SSgt Matt Caples made Nov 3 at 2016 5:54 PM

SSgt Matt Caples — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:54:14 -0400

Yes one of my prior Marines went on to play NCAA football

Response by SSgt Dwight Deatherage made Nov 3 at 2016 6:32 PM

SSgt Dwight Deatherage — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:32:23 -0400

Good luck to them, but after 3+ years of active duty, they are at a disadvantage with younger folks

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 3 at 2016 6:56 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:56:07 -0400

depends on How long they stay in service...

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 3 at 2016 7:19 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:19:04 -0400

Yes I do think so

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Nov 3 at 2016 7:19 PM

1SG Al Brown — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:19:08 -0400

Sure they do. I had a Squad member that ETS'd from Germany in 1990. He returned to CONUS, immediately entered school (PA) via scholarship, and played college football (lineman). It really was a big deal to our Chain of Command (and us), and the Army in Europe was very accommodating concerning his travel and meeting the timelines. Great players are rare, but some have enough shelf life to return after a short enlistment.

Response by SSgt Chuck “Gunz” Gundlach USMC Ret., MBA made Nov 3 at 2016 7:48 PM

SSgt Chuck “Gunz” Gundlach USMC Ret., MBA — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:48:12 -0400

Hell yeah… When I was about halfway through my twenty year career, I applied to the LAPD, and I was 10 years older than most everyone, definitely the oldest, and when we did the physical test portion, I ran circles around these college aged kids. So why not someone who has only done 3-6 years...

Response by SFC Josh Billingsley made Nov 3 at 2016 8:44 PM

SFC Josh Billingsley — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 20:44:19 -0400

I had no idea about this particular program. I've known of several players on All Army teams that had plans for a professional career after the military, but I don't believe NCAA was ever brought up as an option. Thank you for sharing

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Nov 3 at 2016 10:11 PM

CPT Tom Monahan — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 22:11:44 -0400

Hell yea. Football may not be on the top the list. There are lots of pros older than 22 and 38. Track, crew, cross country, shooting, b-ball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, equestrian, swimming, tennis, and the list goes on.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2016 6:26 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:26:50 -0400

Yes I do. I would think college coaches would want to seek them out. In many cases they would be better athletes, more disciplined, stronger teammates, more mature and more mission oriented.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2016 7:43 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 07:43:09 -0400

Anybody remember Rocky Bleier? Wounded in Vietnam, played for 4 Super Bowl championship teams? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Bleier

Rocky Bleier - Wikipedia

Robert Patrick "Rocky" Bleier (born March 5, 1946) is an American former professional football player. He was a National Football League (NFL) halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968 and from 1971 to 1980.[1]

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Nov 4 at 2016 6:22 PM

SSG Mark Franzen — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 18:22:37 -0400

I WISH I COULD BUT I AM TOO OLD 61 AND NOT IN THAT GOOD OF SHAPE LIKE I WAS BACK 41 YEARS AGO.

Response by COL Jim Bullion made Nov 10 at 2016 11:17 AM

COL Jim Bullion — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 11:17:38 -0500

Absolutely...
https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2014/06/kevin-price-14-war-zone-end-zone

Kevin Price ’14: From War Zone to End Zone | Dartmouth News

This story was originally published in the Dartmouth College Fund’s spring 2014 issue of “From the GREEN