Army officer eyes return to baseball diamond

[unhappycamper]

1st Lt. Nick Hill, a 2007 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, speaks about his upcoming plans Feb. 9 while working in the baseball athletic office at West Point. In 2007, Hill is a participant of the Army's "alternative service options" program, enabling athletes to pursue careers in professional sports while fulfilling their military obligations.


Army officer eyes return to baseball diamond
By Gregg Bell - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 19, 2009 19:44:51 EST

1st. Lt. Nick Hill puts together recruiting packets in the athletic department.

His West Point classmates are searching for roadside bombs and watching for mortar attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 24-year-old engineer officer is one of the few troops with the skills of a professional athlete. An Army policy aimed at balancing the needs of the individual soldier with the military’s overall goals is allowing him to pursue a baseball career — despite the ongoing conflicts.

For the left-hander with a decent fastball and Double-A experience, it’s both a blessing and a burden.

“To be honest, it’s something I think about every day,” Hill said by telephone after another afternoon workout at West Point in preparation for the 2009 baseball season.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_military_athletes_021909/%2e



uhc comment: :wtf: