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| Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1996 – present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force  United States Space Force |
| Part of | Department of Defense Department of the Air Force |
| Nickname | WCAP |
| Commanders | |
| World Class Athlete Program Manager | Dale Filsell |
| Chief, Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports | Maj Tiffany Lewis |
| Notable commanders | Lt Col (Sel) Aaron Tissot 2021-2023 |
The Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) is a military program designed to support nationally and internationally ranked athlete Airmen and Guardians and prepare them to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team and compete at the highest level of international competition. Additionally, it provides current Olympians an avenue to serve the United States in a uniformed service capacity between training seasons. The program is falls under the DAF Fitness and Sports Division, Air Force Service Center, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Program management of WCAP and the Department of the Air Force Shooting Program moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in the spring of 2022 to better assist athletes and to be closer to the Olympic Training Center and its sister service WCAP Program Managers and Fort Carson, Colorado.[1]
This program enables selected Department of the Air Force military athletes to focus on training and competing in a full-time status in preparation for Olympic competition. The selection process ensures participants are viable Olympic contenders who will serve as Department of the Air Force ambassadors as they compete nationally and internationally.
The name United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program was changed in 2021 to Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program when it onboarded its first Space Force service member, fencer, Capt. Leanne “Malibu” Brenner.
Program management operating location, updated recruitment strategy, refined entry standards and branding refresh reflect significant milestones in 2021–2022.
The DAF WCAP is currently governed by Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-114, Fitness, Sports and World Class Athlete Program[dead link]. Several Department of the Air Force Athlete of the Year award winners were WCAP alumni or program hopefuls.
Air Force WCAP founding
[edit]The World Class Athlete Program was first established by the Army as to centrally manage and support athletes under the provisions set in Public Law 84-11 which passed into law in March 1955. PL 84-11 afforded any Armed Forces service members an opportunity to perform at the international level while maintaining a military career.
At a Washington Touchdown Club Awards Banquet, General Ronald Fogleman inquired about the establishment of the WCAP program and asked if the Air Force might have a similar program for Airmen. Less than a year later, in Feb of 1996 the Air Force World Class Athlete Program was established and added to the Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports portfolio.
Historic highlights
[edit]
The first official WCAP class was 1996. During its inaugural year, the program supported 19 full-time athletes.
Highest Olympic Finish: Second Lieutenant Weston "Seth" Kelsey (Men's Epee, 4th place) 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, UK.
Recent WCAP Finish: Airman First Class Kelly Curtis (Women's Skeleton, 21st Place) 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
2019: Introduction of the United States Space Force WCAP. This program is currently managed by the Air Force WCAP Program Manager.
2022: New branding introduced. This included service specific for Air Force and Space Force Athletes and Olympian WCAP logos.
2023: Length of participation in WACP expanded to 3 years. This allowed more time for athletes to train for trials and Olympic qualifications increasing likelihood of selection to TEAM USA.
Current roster
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
 Major |
Drew Donlin |  Handball |
2028 |
 Second Lieutenant |
Viva Kreis[2] | Handball |
2028 |
| Second Lieutenant |
Wyatt Hendrickson |  Freestyle wrestling |
2028 |
| Second Lieutenant |
Sam Gilman |  Track and Field: 1500 metres |
2028 |
 Senior Airman |
Mariah Anderson | Greco-Roman wrestling |
2028 |
| Senior Airman |
Tyler Evans |  Modern Pentathlon |
2028 |
 Airman First Class |
Duncan Nelson | Greco-Roman wrestling |
2028 |
| Airman First Class |
Anita Alvarez |  Synchronised swimming |
2028 |
| Airman First Class |
Donavon Banks | _pictogram.svg){kind=small} Javelin throw |
2028 |
| Airman First Class |
Nick Christie | Track and Field: Racewalking |
2028 |
| Airman First Class |
Journey Figueroa |  Boxing |
2028 |
| Airman First Class |
Amere Lattin | _pictogram.svg){kind=small} 400 metres hurdles |
2028 |
| Airman First Class |
Brian Williams | _pictogram.svg){kind=small} Discus throw |
2028 |
| ? | Unknown Airman | ? | 2028 |
Source: [3]
WCAP Olympians
[edit]14 WCAP athletes have represented the United States at the Olympics.
Eighteen of the 19 athletes in the program qualified for the Olympic Trials.
Olympians
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major |
William Burton Roy |  Shooting |
9th in Men's Skeet |
 First Lieutenant |
David DeGraaf | Handball |
9th of 12; he scored a record 13 goals against Kuwait and a record of 7 blocked shots |
Alternate
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
 Staff sergeant |
Ronald Simms | Boxing |
Coaching staff
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
 Master sergeant |
Richard Estrella | As a coach for Greco-Roman wrestling |
Deborah Nordyke was the only WCAP athlete to make Team USA. She joined the Air Force Alaska Air National Guard in 1987.
| Rank | Name | Sport | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airman first class |
Deborah Nordyke |  Biathlon |
48th |
Thirty-six of 38 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. One alternate for Olympic skeet.
All three athletes qualified for the trials.
Twenty-three of 28 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.
Three athletes were selected for the United States national baseball team. They lost in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifying Tournament and did not qualify for the Olympics.
Three alternates.
Olympians
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| First Lieutenant |
James Parker | _pictogram.svg){kind=small} Track and Field: Hammer throw |
 Captain |
Kevin Eastler | Track and Field: Racewalking |
| Captain |
Weston Kelsey |  Fencing: Epee |
All four athletes qualified for the trials.
Twenty-three of 24 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.
Three alternates.
Olympians
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Captain |
Eli Bremer | Modern pentathalon |
| Captain |
Kevin Eastler | Track and Field: Racewalking |
| Captain |
Weston Kelsey | Fencing |
| Major |
Dominic Grazioli | Shooting |
Two athletes qualified for the trials. One was first alternate in Bobsled.
Twelve of 14 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. Zero made the Olympic team.
Olympians
[edit]| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Captain |
Weston Kelsey | Fencing: Epee |
One athlete qualified for the trials. He was first alternate in Bobsled.
There were 20 WCAP athletes, five competed in the trials and one went to the Olympics.
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| First Lieutenant |
Cale Simmons | _pictogram.svg){kind=small} Track and Field: Pole vault |
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No WCAP athletes qualified for the trials.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 Tokyo games to be delayed.. The Air Force WCAP retained athletes in the program however, no Air Force athletes were able to qualify for the Olympics.
There were 6 WCAP athletes, six competed in the trials and one went to the Olympics.
Kelly Curtis was the only WCAP athlete to compete in the Olympics.
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Airman First Class |
Kelly Curtis |  Skeleton |
No WCAP athletes qualified for the trials.
Kelly Curtis (skeleton)
Jasmine Jones (bobsled) First WCAP athlete to earn an Olympic medal. A bronze medal at the two woman bobsled event.
Summary
[edit]| Olympics | Roster | Trials | Alternate | Olympians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Summer Olympics | 19 | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| 1998 Winter Olympics | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Summer Olympics | 38 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 Winter Olympics | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 Summer Olympics | 28 | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| 2006 Winter Olympics | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 Summer Olympics | 24 | 23 | 0 | 4 |
| 2010 Winter Olympics | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 Summer Olympics | 14 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Winter Olympics | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 Summer Olympics | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 Winter Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 Summer Olympics | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 Winter Olympics | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 Summer Olympics | 13 | ? | ? | 0 |
| 2026 Winter Olympics | ? | ? | ? | 2 |
| 2028 Summer Olympics | 14 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Source: [4]
References
[edit]- ↑ Powers, Rod (12 April 2019). "Military and the Olympics". the balancecareers. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ↑ Parks, Rachael (21 January 2026). "World-class athlete takes on Air Force OTS". Archived from the original on 5 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "Air Force WCAP". Archived from the original on 5 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
- ↑ "DAF World Class Athlete Program". February 2026. Archived from the original on 5 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
Sources
[edit]- Air Force World Class Athlete Program
- Public Law 84-11