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.

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. 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 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

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 RankNameSportClass MajorDrew Donlin Handball2028 Second LieutenantViva Kreis Handball2028 Second LieutenantWyatt Hendrickson Freestyle wrestling2028 Second LieutenantSam Gilman Track and Field: 1500 metres2028 Senior AirmanMariah Anderson Greco-Roman wrestling2028 Senior AirmanTyler Evans Modern Pentathlon2028 Airman First ClassDuncan Nelson Greco-Roman wrestling2028 Airman First ClassAnita Alvarez Synchronised swimming2028 Airman First ClassDonavon Banks Javelin throw2028 Airman First ClassNick Christie Track and Field: Racewalking2028 Airman First ClassJourney Figueroa Boxing2028 Airman First ClassAmere Lattin 400 metres hurdles2028 Airman First ClassBrian Williams Discus throw2028?Unknown Airman?2028 Source:

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 RankNameSportResult MajorWilliam Burton Roy Shooting9th in Men's Skeet First LieutenantDavid DeGraaf Handball9th of 12; he scored a record 13 goals against Kuwait and a record of 7 blocked shots

Alternate RankNameSport Staff sergeantRonald Simms Boxing

Coaching staff RankNameSport Master sergeantRichard Estrella 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. RankNameSportResult Airman first classDeborah Nordyke Biathlon48th

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 RankNameSport First LieutenantJames Parker Track and Field: Hammer throw CaptainKevin Eastler Track and Field: Racewalking CaptainWeston Kelsey Fencing: Epee

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 RankNameSport CaptainEli Bremer Modern pentathalon CaptainKevin Eastler Track and Field: Racewalking CaptainWeston Kelsey Fencing MajorDominic Grazioli Shooting

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 RankNameSport CaptainWeston Kelsey Fencing: Epee

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. RankNameSport First LieutenantCale Simmons Track and Field: Pole vault

2018 Winter Olympics No WCAP athletes qualified for the trials.

2020 Summer Olympics 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.

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. RankNameSport Airman First ClassKelly Curtis Skeleton

2024 Summer Olympics No WCAP athletes qualified for the trials.

2026 Winter Olympics Kelly Curtis (skeleton)

Jasmine Jones (bobsled) First WCAP athlete to earn an Olympic medal. A bronze medal at the two woman bobsled event.

Summary OlympicsRosterTrialsAlternateOlympians1996 Summer Olympics1918131998 Winter Olympics11012000 Summer Olympics3836102002 Winter Olympics33002004 Summer Olympics2823332006 Winter Olympics44002008 Summer Olympics2423042010 Winter Olympics22102012 Summer Olympics1412012014 Winter Olympics11102016 Summer Olympics205012018 Winter Olympics00002020 Summer Olympics280002022 Winter Olympics61012024 Summer Olympics13??02026 Winter Olympics???22028 Summer Olympics14TBATBATBA Source:

References

Sources Air Force World Class Athlete Program Public Law 84-11

External links https://myairforcelife.com/sports-world-class-athletes/ Official website https://DAFsports.com