I read the column about Mike Viti, a West Point football player who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, and will be allowed to join the Bills this fall as well as serve in the Army Reserves in the off-season.

This is a great opportunity for West Point Army football to have a recruiter who has made the "pro ranks" with his sport.

The academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) need to have top athletes recruited to be able to stay competitive in today's college competition. This is one way to accomplish it.

Both Navy and Air Force have had athletes go into the pros after graduation, such as David "The Admiral" Robinson, a Navy basketball great.

These individuals will make great recruiting officers, to help the programs. They will serve their country in the legitimate jobs that they choose. If they opt out of the five-year obligation, they will have the option of returning some of the cost incurred for their education.

As a former Army football letterman playing against great teams from 1961 to 1964, I can assure you that Division 1 NCAA football is now a full-time job, and these athletes deserve their rewards of professional sports, if they earn them.

David La Rochelle, MD

Napa, Calif.

dlarochellemd@gmail.com