U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program Explained

Unit Name:U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program
Dates:1997 – present
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Command Structure:Department of Defense
Department of the Army
Installation Management CommandFamily and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command
Garrison:Fort Carson, Colorado
Garrison Label:Location
Nickname:WCAP
Commander1:Cpt. Robert Cheseret
Commander1 Label:Commander
Commander2:1st Sgt. Jose Santiago
Commander2 Label:First Sergeant

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]

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:

WCAP Olympians

2022

During the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China five soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIV Olympiad.[4]

2020

During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan twelve soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXII Olympiad.[5]

2018

During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea seven soldier-athletes represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIII Olympiad.[6]

2016

The program sent four Kenyan-born soldier-runners to compete at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.[7]

as well as

2012

The program sent seven athletes and four coaches to the London 2012 Summer Olympics.[8]

2010

During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games three soldier-athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXI Olympiad.[9]

-10k Sprint[10]

-4-man USA Sled II Pilot

-4-man USA Sled II Brakeman[11]

2008

During the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics two WCAP athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXIX Olympiad:[12]

-50m Rifle Competition

-Heavyweight

-Rapid Fire Pistol competition

Other notable WCAP alumni

-2004 World Military Boxing Championships, gold medal (69-kg. weight class)[13]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.thearmywcap.com/ "U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program"
  2. http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r215_1.pdf%20 Army Regulation 215–1 Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
  3. http://www.thearmywcap.com/#!apply/c19rm "WCAP Entry Standards"
  4. Web site: Meet the Soldier-athletes competing at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games :: WCAP . 2022-06-09 . www.armywcap.com.
  5. Web site: Abreu • • . Danielle . From Defending Their Country to Representing It: These are the Armed Service Members Competing in Tokyo . 2022-06-09 . NBC 7 San Diego . 26 July 2021 . en-US.
  6. https://taskandpurpose.com/meet-7-soldiers-going-gold-winter-olympics/ Meet the 7 US Soldiers Going For Gold at the Winter Olympics
  7. http://www.militarytimes.com/story/sports/2016/08/02/4-kenyan-born-us-army-runners-represent-their-adopted-country-rio-games/87945968/ 4 Kenyan-born U.S. Army runners represent their adopted country at Rio Games
  8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/11-army-coaches-athletes-headed-to-olympics-to-compete-in-events-like-wrestling-shooting/2012/07/16/gJQAvmJToW_story.html US Army sends off 7 athletes, 4 coaches to London Olympics
  9. Web site: US Army Olympians . Goarmy.com . 2012-07-23 . 9 November 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101109173016/http://www.goarmy.com/events/army-athletes/army-olympians.html . live .
  10. Web site: Teela sits out Olympic 20k Individual Biathlon . United States Army . 19 February 2010 . 2012-07-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101207192236/http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/02/19/34726-teela-sits-out-olympic-20-k-individual-biathlon/index.html . 7 December 2010 . dead .
  11. Web site: Bobsledding Soldiers attention turns to Olympic four-man event . United States Army . 24 February 2010 . 2012-07-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101207192124/http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/02/24/34899-bobsledding-soldiers-attention-turns-to-olympic-four-man-event/index.html . 7 December 2010 . dead .
  12. Web site: Soldier-Olympians share tales with Army leaders . United States Army . 16 October 2008 . 2012-07-23 . 25 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090725134224/http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/10/16/13337-soldier-olympians-share-tales-with-army-leaders/ . live .
  13. News: Melson wins U.S. boxing quarterfinals . USA Today . 9 March 2006 . 9 August 2011 . 9 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220409170732/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2006-03-09-us-quarterfinals_x.htm . live .
  14. Web site: Army wrestler wins first World Championship medal . DVIDS .