The few days for which Chris Swain was at Chargers Park this month saw him attend meetings, study film, be coached on technique, run 7-on-7 and team drills and sweat through a strength and conditioning program with fellow running backs.

Then, Swain left.

He had to go back to work.

The rookie fullback missed the start of organized team activities (OTAs) this week, and that’s just fine by the Chargers. They know what they signed up for this April, what Swain signed up for years ago. On Friday, he will graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy, being commissioned an officer.


A military commitment means priorities.

The flag comes before the field.

“His number one priority is to serve our country,” General Manager Telesco said. “His number two priority would be the Chargers. We’re OK with that. We’re all on the same page. We’ll accommodate what his schedule is. The Navy has been great. … They said that they can accommodate our schedule. Obviously, we’re very grateful for that. We know what his number one priority is. We’re not going to change that.”

Swain’s graduation ceremony begins at 7 a.m. PT.


On Thursday afternoon, a Navy official said that Swain’s paperwork was in the final stage of authorization, set to be completed before the start. It will authorize Swain to enter the Navy as a Reserve, making him eligible to play in the 2016 NFL season.

Last Friday, Assistant Secretary of Defense Todd Weiler similarly waived Joe Cardona, the Patriots’ long-snapper and an El Cajon native, and Keenan Reynolds, a Ravens wide receiver, from the Department of Defense requirement that “officers appointed from a service academy serve on active duty for at least two years before being appointed in a Reserve component” to facilitate pro sports participation, according to an official memo.

Swain, in other words, will be allowed to compete.

He is one of two fullbacks on the Chargers’ roster, the other Derek Watt, a sixth-round draft pick. Watt is more experienced on special teams, shared a college backfield with running back Melvin Gordon at Wisconsin and is deeper in his playbook, having been a full participant at OTAs and not missed a meeting.


But while Swain is relatively behind, that shouldn’t last.

He will re-enter the mix upon his scheduled return to San Diego next week. Like other spots on the roster, it’s considered very much an open competition at fullback.

“Service comes first,” Swain said. “I always looked up to people in the military growing up. When I first got to the academy in my Plebe Year, I really started to embrace the military. It was hard, balancing military, academics, football, but I learned how to prioritize those things, how to balance them all. The number one reason why I’m graduating the academy is to serve my country. That always comes first. Second is football.”

The Chargers are fine with that.


Coach Mike McCoy has called it an “honor” to have Swain on the roster. Certainly, the rookie fits in, considering San Diego is a military town. Swain spent portions of the past two summers here as part of his training. He also played at Qualcomm Stadium in the 2014 Poinsettia Bowl.

“We have 90 players,” Telesco said. “Eighty-nine of them have one job. He’s going to have two jobs, but I think when you go to that school or West Point or Air Force or the Coast Guard Academy, those kids are prepared to do a lot of different things, a lot of different tasks, and still do them efficiently and productively. …

“He’s got some definite skills. Most of the running plays (at Navy) are dive-option plays, but he has some run skill. He can block. It’s going to be a little bit of a transition here because when he blocks there, he takes the fake dive and he’s blocking for the quarterback. But he’s tough. He’s physical. He’s got some athletic ability. He’s got really good feet. He has all those intangibles that you would expect from kids at the naval academy.”

His two jobs are better than one.