U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) is a military unit whose primary mission is to support nationally and internationally ranked soldiers in participating on the U.S. Olympic team. The program is headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado.[1]
U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program | |
---|---|
World Class Athlete Program | |
Active | 1997 – present |
Country | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch | United States Army |
Part of | Department of Defense Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command |
Nickname(s) | WCAP |
Objectives
According to the U.S. Army, WCAP provides active duty, National Guard and reserve soldiers the opportunity to train and compete at national and international sports competitions with the ultimate goal of selection to the U.S. Olympic team and U.S. Paralympic team, while maintaining a professional military career and promoting the U.S. Army.[1]
Selection
Any soldier-athlete (Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve) may apply for selection provided:
- Soldier is in good military standing
- The sport the soldier is applying for is an Olympic sport
- Soldier has completed Advanced Individual Training (enlisted) or Officer Basic Course (officer)
- Soldier meets sport specific entry standards, which normally consists of attaining a high national ranking or being selected to a U.S. National Team for international competition[2][3]
- WCAP is not a developmental program; it targets athletes who have achieved world class status in their sport
- Army National Guard Outstanding Athlete Program, 2010 Winter Olympics.
- U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program, 2004 Summer Olympics.
- U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program, 2004 Summer Olympics.
- 2009 U.S. National Boxing Championships.
- Army World Class Athlete Program, 2010 World Team Trials for USA Wrestling.
- Army World Class Athlete Program Olympic biathlete Jeremy Teela practicing.
- U.S. Biathlon World Team Trials in Coleraine, Minnesota.
- WCAP athletes sign autographs for fans, 2009 AUSA Conference.
WCAP Olympians
2018
During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea seven soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIII Olympiad.[4]
- Maj Christopher Fogt, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
- Sgt. 1st Class Nate Weber, Four-Man Bobsled
- Sgt Nick Cunningham, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
- Sgt Justin Olsen, Two and Four-Man Bobsled
- Sgt Emily Sweeney, Women's Singles Luge
- Sgt Taylor Morris, Singles Luge
- Sgt Matthew Mortensen, Doubles Luge
2016
The program sent four Kenyan-born soldier-runners to compete at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.[5]
- Sgt. Hillary Bor, 3,000 m steeplechase
- Spc. Paul Chelimo, 5,000 m run won the silver medal
- Spc. Shadrack Kipchirchir, 10,000 m run
- Spc. Leonard Korir, 10,000 m run
as well as
- Staff Sgt. John Nunn, 50 km racewalk
2012
The program sent seven athletes and four coaches to the London 2012 Summer Olympics.[6]
- Sergeant First Class Dremiel Byers, Greco-Roman wrestling, 120 kg
- Sgt. 1st Class Keith Sanderson, rapid fire pistol
- Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski, pistol
- Staff Sgt. John Nunn, 50 km racewalk
- Spc. Justin Lester, Greco-Roman wrestling, 66 kg
- Sgt. Spenser Mango, Greco-Roman wrestling, 55 kg
- Spc. Dennis Bowsher, Modern Pentathlon
2010
During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games three soldier-athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXI Olympiad.[8]
- SGT Jeremy Teela (Biathlon)
- -10k Sprint[9]
- SGT John Napier (Bobsled)
- -4-man USA Sled II Pilot
- 1LT Christopher Fogt (Bobsled)
- -4-man USA Sled II Brakeman[10]
- SGT William Tavares (Team USA Bobsled Coach)
2008
During the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics two WCAP athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIX Olympiad:[11]
- MAJ Michael Anti (Shooting)
- -50m Rifle Competition
- SSG Dremiel Byers (Greco-Roman Wrestling)
- -Heavyweight
- SSG Keith Sanderson (Shooting)
- -Rapid Fire Pistol competition
- MAJ David Johnson (Team USA Shooting Coach)
Other notable WCAP alumni
- CPT Boyd Melson (Boxing)
- -2004 World Military Boxing Championships, gold medal (69-kg. weight class)[12]
References
- "U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program". thearmywcap.com.
- Army Regulation 215–1 Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Archived 11 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. army.mil
- "WCAP Entry Standards". thearmywcap.com.
- Meet the 7 US Soldiers Going For Gold at the Winter Olympics, 'Task & Purpose', 8 February 2018.
- 4 Kenyan-born U.S. Army runners represent their adopted country at Rio Games, Military Times
- US Army sends off 7 athletes, 4 coaches to London Olympics, AP in Washington Post, 16 July 2012
- "U.S. Army FMWRC Official Image Archive". Flickr.com. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "US Army Olympians". Goarmy.com. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "Teela sits out Olympic 20k Individual Biathlon". Army.mil. 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "Bobsledding Soldiers attention turns to Olympic four-man event". Army.mil. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "Soldier-Olympians share tales with Army leaders". Army.mil. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- "Melson wins U.S. boxing quarterfinals". USA Today. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
Sources
- Pearce, Kelly (27 November 1996). "Army brings elite athlete program to Fort Carson". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph.
- WCAP Selection Standards
- Eligibility and Application Procedures for the Army World Class Athlete Program
- US Army WCAP Official Website
- US Army Olympians
- Seven Soldiers, Alums, Make Team USA for Olympic Winter Games
- Army Regulation 215–1 Morale, Welfare, and Recreation