Many athletes have the dream of going pro in their respective sport, but to many it remains simply just a dream. There are many ways to accomplish whatever goal or dream you have in your athletic career into a reality, but to some, it's not feasible. One of these ways is through the WCAP. Not many people are aware that the WCAP exists or even know what it is. The WCAP (World Class Athlete Program) is actually a military unit within the branch of the US Army. It's part of the Department of Defense. It is very hard to join the WCAP and it's even harder to stay in the unit. Like every unit, the WCAP has one sole mission which is to win. The whole role of the WCAP is to support nationally and internationally ranked soldier athletes and have them make the US Olympic team and Paralympic team. The headquarters of the WCAP is in Fort Carson, CO.

The WCAP is open to all soldiers, but not your average Joe can apply. To even be considered to apply for the WCAP, there are many requirements concerning how the athlete has done in the past and their current world and national rankings in the sport they compete in. The WCAP is open to athletes of all sports in the Olympic and Paralympic Games except for basketball, hockey, soccer, equestrian, and figure skating due to either costs that come with the sport (equestrian and figure skating) or not being a professional athlete in which the Olympic team is chosen from that sport (basketball and the NBA, hockey and the NHL, soccer and professional club teams). Although the WCAP is open to all athletes from most Olympic sports, they dominate in certain ones. When I say dominate I truly mean the WCAP dominates. The sports in which the WCAP is known for producing Olympic-caliber athletes is boxing, the modern pentathlon, rugby, shooting (for obvious reasons), track and field, wrestling, and even taekwondo.

The WCAP is always known for having athletes the US National teams in their respective sports so don't be surprised to see them in the upcoming 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada and next year's Olympic Games in Rio. Best of luck to all of the WCAP athletes.