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Can anyone explain how an exemption from service ... or whatever it may be officially called ... works? I don't understand this.
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<p>Case-by-case basis. Very, very few have been allowed to do this -- and all in different ways. The ones that come to mind are Staubach, McConkey(?), McCallum, Robinson, and now apparently Eckel. About 1 per decade across all sports.</p>
<p>I believe that Staubach did his (then) 4 years on active duty before going to the NFL. Spent his 30 days of leave each year at Cowboys' camp. As I recall, McCallum and Robinson each did 2 years of active-duty service before going to the NFL and NBA, respectively.</p>
<p>In 1986, McCallum played for the Los Angeles Raiders while splitting duty with the United States Navy before having to spend his 5-year commitment with the Navy. He rushed for his season-high NFL totals with 536 yards while splitting playing time with incumbent Marcus Allen.</p>
<p>After serving his duty with the Navy until 1990, McCallum rejoined the Raiders. His playing time was limited as he played special teams and as a short-yardage specialty back.</p>
<p>The details on Eckel are sketchy, but it appears that he was asked to resign his commission in 2006. I realize that Wikipedia is not the "be all - end all", but there was an article from Navy Times linked to the Wikipedia article that gave a little more detail, and one would conclude that Navy Times is probably a little better plugged-in to the facts.</p>
<p>Eckel was a great Navy football player, but not exactly a poster-child for USNA and what you hope the graduates will be known for.</p>
<p>Let's just say he's not in the same league as Roger Staubach or David Robinson...</p>
<p>Troubled waters: The Navy experience of Patriots running back Eckel wasn't exactly smooth sailing
By Bob Hohler
Boston Globe Staff / November 18, 2007 </p>
<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Even as he rose to football stardom at the US Naval Academy amid the war on terrorism, there were signs that Kyle Eckel might be better suited to play professional sports than honor his commitment to serve as a commissioned officer.</p>
<p>Eckel, a Patriots fullback and favorite of Bill Belichick's late father, Steve, a longtime assistant coach at Navy, was recommended at least twice for dismissal from the academy before he graduated last in the class of 2005, a former student leader said.</p>
<p>The recommendations to dismiss Eckel, submitted by a school conduct board, were rejected by administrators, according to First Lieutenant Eric Scherrer, a Marine pilot who served on the board as a subcommander of the brigade of midshipmen.</p>
<p>Seventeen months after Eckel graduated, however, he was expelled from the Navy and ordered to repay the government more than $96,000 for the partial cost of his education.</p>
<p>"Kyle was a great guy and a good football player, but the academy is a place to train officers and he did not uphold the standards," Scherrer said. "You just can't break all the rules. With Kyle, it really was a character issue."</p>
<p>I read this today in the Globe and was disappointed read about this person. He is not a credit to the Naval Academy, graduating last in his class. He followed the money. Tonight in the Patriots rout, the announcer was saying how great it was to see a Navy graduate playing in the NFL and comparing him to Roger Staubach! I think Staubach is a much better representative of Navy.</p>
<p>Yea I heard Madden say that tonight, I thought the same thing... I was kinda hoping Eckel wouldn't score the TD that he did (half because of what I've read about him and half because I'm a huge Bills fan :p)</p>
<p>The term "expelled" was a recommendation for Eckel to be separated from the academy, which didn't happen - he graduated (albeit - as the anchor man - the lowest ranked graduate.)</p>
<p>Recently, most recently, he was allowed to tender his resignation and pay for his college costs. Probably a mutually beneficial arrangement to both.</p>
<p>I would like to point out that several years ago, the Navy released from active duty a number of officers who failed pipeline training. For example - I know of a Class of 2004 grad was in flight school - and at the 18 month point in his service - he was carrying a 87% class average. (But the Navy had determined that there were too many in the training pipeline - many planes being retired faster than previously scheduled, and new planes not coming on-line as soon as scheduled - resulting in a glut. So the "pass" was raised to 94%, and those under this score were "terminated". Pink slip. Good bye.</p>
<p>Some didn't want to go - but no choice. Other communities (Surface Warfare, Nuclear Power Training, etc.) stated that they had adequate numbers, didn't need more, and didn't want other service "rejects." So these officers were let go, and their 5 year commitments were canceled.</p>
<p>If Eckel is let go in favor of retaining someone who has more "drive" - I am all for it!!</p>
<p>Now - more recently, the decision was that those failing pipeline training wouldn't be let go immediately - they might go to special training for 3 - 6 weeks and then be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for 12 - 16 months as part of the Individual Augmentation (IA) program. Now - these individual know that they don't have a "safe community" that they belong to, and a chance of promotion and staying for 20 years is slim to non-existent, and they will likely resign their commission at the earliest opportunity.</p>
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Now - more recently, the decision was that those failing pipeline training wouldn't be let go immediately - they might go to special training for 3 - 6 weeks and then be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for 12 - 16 months as part of the Individual Augmentation (IA) program.
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<p>Not exactly the case this year. Classmates of mine are getting put immediately into a new pipeline. One in particular has already headed off to intel school, and another is headed straight to the SWO community. I also think that failing may be the wrong word. Many people leave flight school because they realized that its not what they wanted to do.</p>
<p>The rules change .... when there are periods of "glut" - they are more likely to be dumped. </p>
<p>When there are shortages - then there are opportunities to enter another pipeline and succeed.</p>
<p>If the Navy were successful in making the case to increase the number of ships - then a big growth would be required. But if the Navy starts shrinking again (and adding to the problem would be new ships replacing old ships that have smaller crew compliment) fewer officers and crew required.</p>
<p>The Navy has also been trying to reduce billets than can be turned over to civilians (either Civil Service or contracted out ...). It becomes a balancing act because if the sea/shore rotation is too stressful on family life - then retention problems get bad.</p>
<p>It goes in waves .... in 1973 - 1974, there was downsizing that resulted in military members being allowed to get out. It happened again in 1993 - 1995 time frame; the military was allowing immediate retirement with at least 15 years instead of 20 years.</p>
<p>As to the word "failing out" - in the direct case I cited - it was someone who had a cumulative score of 87%, but the "passing" was raised from 80% to 94%. Failing - technically YES - but I would be hard put to suggest that he "failed". And there are tough pipeline training courses that are very hard, but there are also some who decide that that community isn't a good fit for them. When I went to Nuc School - of those that left, a number of drop-outs were due to failing because the academics were too tough, but a few deliberately did what ever it took to get out, because they didn't want to be Nukes. (They had been "drafted" from their commissioning program.)</p>
<p>Every single graduating class from West Point, Annapolis or the AF Academy has an anchor (or tail end Charlie at the AFA). Each of these persons are graduates of their respective school.</p>
<p>Eckel is one of these. So was Gen. George Pickett from West Point and many others who have served well and honorably.</p>
<p>Kevinsmom declared that Eckel was "not a credit to the Naval Academy, graduating last in his class"</p>
<p>This comment is both ignorant and insulting to each graduate who was ranked last in his class. Each met the requirements of their school and deserve respect for that achievement.</p>