As U.S. airmen engage in combat operations related to the conflict with Iran, a select group of service members is competing in elite international sports through the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). This program allows Air Force athletes to train full-time while remaining on active duty, with the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Games and promoting the service. The program has gained significance since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, with U.S. forces striking over 13,000 targets as of April 6, according to a CENTCOM fact sheet.
Airman First Class Anita Alvarez, 2nd Lt. Texas Tanner, and 1st Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson are among those training for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Alvarez, an established Olympic medalist, joined the Air Force in November 2024 and is the first Olympic medalist recruited into WCAP. She has since won multiple medals in international competitions and is pursuing a degree while considering a future career in aerospace physiology.
Tanner, a graduate of the Air Force Academy, set collegiate records in throwing events and won his first senior national championship shortly after commissioning. He aims to compete at the Los Angeles Games and plans to work in Air Force contracting after his athletic career.
Hendrickson, who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2024, won the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship in March 2025 and has since secured a position on the U.S. world team. He credits WCAP for enabling him to continue wrestling while serving as an active-duty officer.
Retired Air Force combat rescue officer Chad Senior, who competed in modern pentathlon, illustrates the transition from elite athlete to military service. After competing in two Olympic Games, he shifted to operational roles in the military and now works as a contractor supporting the Air Force.
The athletes view their participation in sports as a form of representation and preparation for future military roles. Their immediate focus is on the upcoming Olympics, with the Air Force anticipating that the discipline developed through athletic training will benefit military service in the long term.