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Getting a pass

The Army has a process in place that allows some athletes to be excused from duty [“Drafted from war,” Frontlines, May 12]. Caleb Campbell won’t go to war, even though he is a West Point graduate — instead he will be allowed to play football, earn large sums of money and live safely here in America. What about the men and women who have given their lives; and how about those separated from their families — some with medical degrees, law degrees, and degrees that are more important to society than football?

I don’t want any parent’s child placed in harm’s way. But how dare the Army place greater value on one profession than another?

How do you explain this policy to the 160,000 men and women now fighting the war and to the families of the more than 4,000 men and women who have died? Are their lives not as important as a football player who chose to go to a military academy? He could have chosen any college in America, yet he chose West Point.

Sgt. Joseph Ruggiero

Houston

DISCUSS: What's the intended message from the Army?