Air Force unlikely to change policy for officers who want to pursue sports career

Air Force senior football players have to wait two years before pursuing NFL careers, and it doesn't look like that will change despite the publicity generated by the Detroit Lions' selection of Army defensive back Caleb Campbell in last weekend's NFL Draft.

Campbell - along with Army fullback Mike Viti and punter/kicker Owen Tolson, who signed free agent contracts with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants, respectively - has benefited from Army's "Alternative Service Option" program. It allows officers to spend their first two years of active duty service playing professionally and working part-time as recruiters for the Army. If they still are playing after two years, they can serve six years in the reserves in place of the final three years of their active-duty commitment.

Air Force and Navy are strictly following a Department of Defense policy issued last August and implemented Jan. 1 that states officers must serve two years of active duty before applying for excess leave or early release to pursue a professional sports career.

"Our guidance is clear based on the policy of the Department of Defense," Air Force spokesman Capt. Tom Wenz said. "The Army's interpretation of the DoD policy is something that's between the Army and the DoD and not for us to comment on."

According to an e-mail from Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a press officer for the Department of Defense, "it is up to the Military Departments to interpret and apply that policy."

Some have a problem with Army's interpretation. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk told the Annapolis Capital that "Army has redefined active duty to include playing professional sports."

Air Force academy officials declined comment through sports information director Troy Garnhart, who referred questions to Wenz. Garnhart said only that the academy wished Navy, Army and Air Force would follow the same rules regarding graduates playing pro sports.

Wenz said there were no plans for the Air Force to tweak its policy.

That means Air Force players with NFL dreams - such as senior linebackers John Rabold and Drew Fowler - will have to attempt to stay in shape and on the teams' radars for two years. Last year, coach Troy Calhoun said players could use accrued leave time to attend preseason camps during their two years of active duty service.