| U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program | |
|---|---|
 World Class Athlete Program | |
| Active | 1997 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Part of |
Department of Defense |
| Nickname(s) | WCAP |
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 United States Olympic Team and Paralympic Games, 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 US 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.
WCAP Olympians[]
2012[]
The Program sent 7 athletes and 4 coaches to the 2012 Summer Games in London.[4]
- 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
- Sgt. Spenser Mango, Greco-Roman wrestling
- SPC Dennis Bowsher, Modern Pentathlon
2010[]
Maj. Michael Anti (left), a marksman with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program assigned to the U.S. Army Marskmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga., flashes his silver medal alongside gold medalist Zhanbo Jia of China (center) and bronze medalist Christian Planer (right) of Austria after completion of the men's 50-meter rifle three-position event in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games at Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre.[5]
During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games three soldier-athletes and one coach represented WCAP and the US Army in the XXI Olympiad.[6]
- SGT Jeremy Teela (Biathlon)
- -10k Sprint[7]
- SGT John Napier (Bobsled)
- -4-man USA Sled II Pilot
- 1LT Christopher Fogt (Bobsled)
- -4-man USA Sled II Brakeman[8]
- 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:[9]
- 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[]
Boyd Melson (right)
- CAPTAIN Boyd Melson (Boxing)
- -2004 Military World Games|World Military Boxing Championships, gold medal (69-kg. weight class)[10]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 US Army World Class Athlete Program Official Site[dead link]
- ↑ Army Regulation 215–1 Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
- ↑ US Army World Class Athlete Program Entry Standards[dead link]
- ↑ 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. http://www.flickr.com/photos/familymwr/4931174662/in/set-72157624691284225/. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ "US Army Olympians". Goarmy.com. http://www.goarmy.com/events/army-athletes/army-olympians.html. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ "Teela sits out Olympic 20k Individual Biathlon". Army.mil. 19 February 2010. http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/02/19/34726-teela-sits-out-olympic-20-k-individual-biathlon/index.html. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ "Bobsledding Soldiers attention turns to Olympic four-man event". Army.mil. 24 February 2010. http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/02/24/34899-bobsledding-soldiers-attention-turns-to-olympic-four-man-event/index.html. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ "Soldier-Olympians share tales with Army leaders". Army.mil. 16 October 2008. http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/10/16/13337-soldier-olympians-share-tales-with-army-leaders. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ "Melson wins U.S. boxing quarterfinals". USA Today. 9 March 2006. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2006-03-09-us-quarterfinals_x.htm. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- Pearce, Kelly (27 November 1996). "Army brings elite athlete program to Fort Carson". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph.
Sources[]
- 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
External links[]
- Army WCAP official website
- Family and MWR official website
- Army WCAP Official Image Archive
- Army WCAP official video
- US Army Installation Management Command
- United States Olympic Committee
- Olympic Games official website
- 2012 London Olympic Games official website
The original article can be found at U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program and the edit history here.