Army-Navy tips for Trump
A former Defense Department official who has sat on both sides of the field says making the right impression is key for the president-elect
Donald Trump is going to the Army-Navy game today in Baltimore. He apparently couldn’t wait until he was really the commander in chief to take those salutes and cross the field at halftime.
And now the rest of us will have to queue in line for hours to get through security and into the stadium.
Well, no matter. The current commander in chief isn’t going; he’s probably watching some basketball game instead.
I’ve sat on both sides of this game, too. Here are some tips for the president-elect to enjoy the Army-Navy game experience.
Go early. Ignore advice to the contrary and get in the stadium in time to watch the march-on by the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen. Nowhere else in college football are the entire student bodies of the two contending schools on the field. You will see around 8,000 smart, disciplined, dedicated and mostly sober students who, at age 17, dedicated their young lives to concepts like selfless service, duty, honor and country.
Also, pay attention when the names of the company commanders are announced and look at their faces. They will be black, brown, yellow, white, male and female. This is America at its best.
Be respectful. This is no ordinary football game. This event belongs to a worldwide community of active-duty and reserve military and their families, veterans and defense civilians. They will be watching on televisions all over the country, on ships at sea, in mess halls and in war zones across the globe. It’s their game. For a few hours on a Saturday afternoon it belongs to them and nothing else matters. Let it be theirs.
Be on your best behavior, too; they’ll be watching you. Decide if you are going to return salutes and, if you decide to do so, practice. No one did it better than Ronald Reagan.
Also, practice good flag protocol. Take your hat off and place your hand over your heart when the flag passes in front of you and during the national anthem. Nothing exposes a rookie faster than a sloppy salute or wrong flag etiquette.
Enjoy the game. No, really — enjoy the game. This will be the 117th meeting of these two teams. Navy leads the series 60-49-7, thanks to their current streak of 14 consecutive wins. But this could be Army’s year. The teams are closely matched and well-coached. Both are headed to post-season bowl games. There will be special uniforms and some real talent on the field.
But none of the players will be headed to the NFL. Instead, the The midshipmen march onto the field in the 115th Army-Navy football game two years ago.. seniors will graduate next spring, pin on gold bars and head to ships, squadrons and companies to begin their military careers.
Ironically, though they are all on taxpayer-funded scholarships and even get paid, these players are genuine studentathletes. They take real classes, eat and live in dormitories with their classmates, and must meet all the academic, athletic and military requirements of their academies and graduate in four years. No fake courses, special dorms, safe spaces or gap years here. You will see them play a full 60 minutes, never giving up no matter the score, and then shake hands after the game.
Stay late. Again, ignore contrary advice and stay through the end of the game for the singing of the alma maters. Listen to the words. Hear Navy sing, “Sailors brave in battle fair since fighting days of old, have proved the sailors’ right to wear the Navy Blue and Gold.” Listen to Army sing, “Let duty be well performed, honor be e’er untarn’d, country be ever armed, West Point by thee.”
There is no better afternoon of college football, and you will have the best seats in the house.