Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program

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Active
  
1997 – present

Branch
  
United States Army

Allegiance
  
United States

Nickname(s)
  
WCAP

U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program

Country
  
United States of America

Part of
  
Department of Defense Department of the Army Installation Management Command Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command

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.

Contents

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.

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
  • WCAP is not a developmental program; it targets athletes who have achieved world class status in their sport

    • 2016

    The program sent four Kenyan-born soldier-runners competed at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

  • 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 2012 Summer Games in London.

  • 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.

  • SGT Jeremy Teela (Biathlon)
    • -10k Sprint
  • SGT John Napier (Bobsled)
    • -4-man USA Sled II Pilot
  • 1LT Christopher Fogt (Bobsled)
    • -4-man USA Sled II Brakeman
  • SGT William Tavares (Team USA Bobsled Coach)

    • 2008

    During the 2008 Beijing Summer Games two WCAP athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIX Olympiad:

  • 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)

    References

    U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA