United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program
{{Multiple issues|{{more footnotes needed|date=September 2020}}{{more citations needed|date=September 2020}}}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program
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|dates= 1996 – present
|country= {{flag|United States of America}}
|allegiance=United States
|branch=50x50px United States Air Force
40x40px United States Space Force
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|command_structure= Department of Defense
Installation and Mission Support Center
Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports Division
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|nickname=WCAP
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| commander1 = Mr. Dale Filsell
| commander1_label = World Class Athlete Program Manager
| commander2 = Maj Tiffany Lewis
| commander2_label = Chief, Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports
|commander3=
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|notable_commanders= Lt Col (Sel) Aaron Tissot 2021-2023
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File:United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program Logo.png
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.{{Cite web|title=Military and the Olympics|url=https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-and-the-olympics-3356975|last=Powers|first=Rod|date=12 April 2019|website=the balancecareers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521091538/https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-and-the-olympics-3356975|archive-date=21 May 2020|access-date=21 May 2020}}
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 [https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi34-114/dafi34-114.pd Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-114, Fitness, Sports and World Class Athlete Program]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}.
Several Department of the Air Force Athlete of the Year award winners were WCAP alumni or program hopefuls.
Air Force WCAP founding
The World Class Athlete Program was first established by the Army as to centrally manage and support athletes under the provisions set in [https://www.congress.gov/bill/84th-congress/senate-bill/829 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
File:Space Force WCAP.jpg File:Air Force WCAP.jpg
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
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Rank | Name | Sport | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Major
|data-sort-value="Rich, Daniel|Daniel Rich |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Major
|data-sort-value="French, Phaelen"|Phaelen French |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Smith, Jaci"|Jaci Smith |15x15px Track and Field: 10K and Marathon |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Brenner, Leanne"|Leanne “Malibu” Brenner |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Second Lieutenant
|data-sort-value="Fuller, Sam"|Sam Fuller |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Senior Airman
|data-sort-value="Mannozzi, Michael"|Michael Mannozzi |15x15px Track and Field: Racewalking |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Senior Airman
|data-sort-value="Anderson, Mariah"|Mariah Anderson |15x15px Greco-Roman Wrestling |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Senior Airman
|data-sort-value="Evans, Tyler"|Tyler Evans |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Senior Airman
|data-sort-value="Curtis, Kelly"|Kelly Curtis |File:Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton |data-sort-value="2022|2022, 2026 | |||
| 15x15px Airman First Class
|data-sort-value="Michalski, Daniel"|Daniel Michcalski |File:Athletics (hurdles running) pictogram.svg Steeplechase |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| 15x15px Airman First Class
|data-sort-value="Jones, Jasmine"|Jasmine Jones |File:Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsled |data-sort-value="2026|2026 | |||
| 15x15px Airman First Class
|data-sort-value="Brown, Mitch"|Mitch Brown |15x15px Greco-Roman Wrestling |data-sort-value="2024|2024 | |||
| Airman Basic
|data-sort-value="Taylor, Delbert"|Delbert Taylor |data-sort-value="2024|2024 |
[https://www.afimsc.af.mil/Units/Air-Force-Services-Center/WCAP/Roster2/ Roster]
WCAP Olympians
14 WCAP athletes have represented the United States at the Olympics.
=[[1996 Summer Olympics]]=
Eighteen of the 19 athletes in the program qualified for the Olympic Trials.
==Olympians==
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Rank | Name | Sport | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Major
|data-sort-value="Roy, William"|William Burton Roy |9th in Men's Skeet | |||
| 15x15px First Lieutenant
|data-sort-value="DeGraaf, David"|David DeGraaf |9th of 12; he scored a record 13 goals against Kuwait and a record of 7 blocked shots |
==Alternate==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Staff sergeant
|data-sort-value="Simms, Ronald"|Ronald Simms |
==Coaching staff==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Master sergeant
|data-sort-value="Estrella, Richard"|Richard Estrella |15x15px As a coach for Greco-Roman wrestling |
=[[1998 Winter Olympics]]=
Deborah Nordyke was the only WCAP athlete to make Team USA. She joined the Air Force Alaska Air National Guard in 1987.
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Rank | Name | Sport | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Airman first class
|data-sort-value="Nordyke, Deborah"|Deborah Nordyke |48th |
=[[2000 Summer Olympics]]=
Thirty-six of 38 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. One alternate for Olympic skeet.
=[[2002 Winter Olympics]]=
All three athletes qualified for the trials.
=[[2004 Summer Olympics]]=
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==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 15x15px First Lieutenant
|data-sort-value="Parker, James"|James Parker | ||
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Eastler, Kevin"|Kevin Eastler | ||
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Kelsey, Weston"|Weston Kelsey |
=[[2006 Winter Olympics]]=
All four athletes qualified for the trials.
=[[2008 Summer Olympics]]=
Twenty-three of 24 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.
Three alternates.
==Olympians==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Bremer, Eli"|Eli Bremer | ||
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Eastler, Kevin"|Kevin Eastler | ||
| 15x15px Captain
|data-sort-value="Kelsey, Weston"|Weston Kelsey | ||
| 15x15px Major
|data-sort-value="Grazioli, Dominic"|Dominic Grazioli |
=[[2010 Winter Olympics]]=
Two athletes qualified for the trials. One was first alternate in Bobsled.
=[[2012 Summer Olympics]]=
Twelve of 14 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. Zero made the Olympic team.
==Olympians==
=[[2014 Winter Olympics]]=
One athlete qualified for the trials. He was first alternate in Bobsled.
=[[2016 Summer Olympics]]=
There were 20 WCAP athletes, five competed in the trials and one went to the Olympics.
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 15x15px First Lieutenant
|data-sort-value="Simmons, Cale"|Cale Simmons |
=[[2018 Winter Olympics]]=
No WCAP athletes qualified for the trials.
=[[2020 Summer Olympics]]=
Due to [https://olympics.com/en/news/tokyo-olympic-games-postponed-ioc 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.
=[[2022 Winter 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.
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Rank | Name | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 15x15px Airman First Class
|data-sort-value="Curtis Kelly"|Kelly Curtis |
=[[2024 Summer Olympics]]=
TBD
=[[2026 Winter Olympics]]=
TBD
=Summary=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||||
| Olympics | Roster | Trials | Alternate | Olympians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:left"|1996 Summer Olympics | 19 | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| style="text-align:left"|1998 Winter Olympics | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| style="text-align:left"|2000 Summer Olympics | 38 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2002 Winter Olympics | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2004 Summer Olympics | 28 | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| style="text-align:left"|2006 Winter Olympics | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2008 Summer Olympics | 24 | 23 | 0 | 4 |
| style="text-align:left"|2010 Winter Olympics | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2012 Summer Olympics | 14 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| style="text-align:left"|2014 Winter Olympics | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2016 Summer Olympics | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| style="text-align:left"|2018 Winter Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2020 Summer Olympics | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="text-align:left"|2022 Winter Olympics | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| style="text-align:left"|2024 Summer Olympics | 13| | |||
| style="text-align:left"|2026 Winter Olympics | 2| | |||
References
Sources
- [https://www.afimsc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1536330/daf-world-class-athlete-program/ Air Force World Class Athlete Program]
- Public Law 84-11 [https://www.congress.gov/84/statute/STATUTE-69/STATUTE-69-Pg11-2.pdf]