The move would reverse a decision by former defense secretary Jim Mattis, who prevented service academy athletes from playing pro sports directly after graduating.
By Paul Sonne Paul Sonne National security reporter focusing on the U.S. military Email Bio Follow May 6 at 4:26 PM President Trump is considering allowing student-athletes at U.S. military academies to play professional sports immediately after graduation and perform their required military service afterward.
“I’m going to look at doing a waiver for service academy athletes who can get into the major leagues like the NFL, hockey, baseball,” Trump said. “We’re going to see if we can do it, and they’ll serve their time after they’re finished with professional sports.” Mattis put an end to the practice, saying in an April 2017 memo that the academies “exist to develop future officers who enhance the readiness and lethality of our Military Services.”
The spokeswoman for the Pentagon at the time emphasized that many athletes served in the military after graduation and then went pro — including Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach in the 1960s and defensive tackle Chad Hennings in the 1990s.On Monday, Trump announced his intention to change it and suggested he had discussed the matter with West Point football coach Jeff Monken.
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