Former Navy receiver takes a pass on military obligation

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer

Capital Gazette Communications

Published 08/17/07

Jason Tomlinson should be a commissioned officer preparing to begin a Naval career in surface warfare. Instead, the standout football player is still a midshipman and is working at the Naval Station facility on the Severn River.

File photo by Paul W. Gillespie — The Capital Jason Tomlinson was just the second receiver in Navy history to lead the team in receptions for three straight seasons, catching 57 passes in that span despite a run-oriented attack.

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Tomlinson elected not to graduate from the Naval Academy last May, a personal decision that stunned his coaches and fellow players with the football program. By all accounts, Tomlinson was on course - both academically and militarily - to graduate and simply chose not to do so.

"I came to realize during my senior year that the military just was not for me. I had been thinking about it for a...

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Jason Tomlinson - 2007-08-20 12:20:08

I agree with Ted G. It looks like the NFL got their grips on J.T. and that they are more than willing to handle his $140K repayment (plus sign him on for a cool few million). Its a shame that the USNA couldnt instill the Core Values of being an officer into him over a 4 year period. One of those being Service before Self. Hopefully he is not being considered as a role model for anyone

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John M. - Prattville, AL - Karma: Neutral

NFL - 2007-08-20 08:53:43

I suspect the first few months of a lucrative pro contract will take care of that 140,000 bucks...

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Ted G. - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad

Jason Tomlinson - 2007-08-18 09:39:56

I am a Navy veteran who was fortunate enough to get my college degree through the Navy, so I feel entitled to comment on this story.
A contract with the Navy is not something you can walk away from whenever you feel like it. This man signed a contract and made a promise to serve. He should be held to that promise. If he quits the Academy he should be required to repay the Navy for the education he got AND he should serve the rest of his obligation as a whitehat. If I were his CO he would serve his time as a messcook, where he just might learn a bit about honoring a commitment and not quitting merely because he has a change of heart.

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Oren Wolfe - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral