What is everyone's problem with the US Army runners being Kenyan?

This WCAP model only TAKES from the sport it DOES NOT GIVE .... that's the problem, particularly in a brittle industry such as Track & Field. Everybody appears to "chip in", albeit nominal compared to the other sports, to develop American talent. WCAP, with standards such as this, only LEVERAGES the Rift Valley Foreign Legion to hijack the brittle state of post-collegiate/professional track and field

I'm not military, but these performances are impressive, and make me think, "Go Army!" That's effective advertising in my mind, and well worth what money they spend on the program, whatever that might be. That's advertising for recruiting in general, not specifically for runners. It's like advertising with high performance aircraft, and stuff like that... aspirational stuff.

It's hard to follow all of the the crazy rambling of Lickety Split, so I don't know I don't know if I'm making a point or not. But many of the good Kenyan runners that graduated from the local college where I live have joined the Army, and they have no chance of making the WCAP. They're good guys, serving the US, and getting their citizenship. I don't see any problem at all.

after the 5000 tonight maybe we will hear the last of Lickety

The bottom line is these Army Kenyans are not fast enough to make the team in Kenya. However, they're just fast enough to take the spots from home grown US runners. Their Olympic dreams come true but the end result is these guys won't bring US any medals either. I don't know what process is involved in Army "recruiting" these guys, I hope it is not solely to have these guys run track for them. If that is the case, recruit better US runners and develop them instead.

LIrunner wrote:

after the 5000 tonight maybe we will hear the last of Lickety

-------------------------------

Most likely .... this topic transitions to national media: my dream .... similar scrutiny as the Army & National Guard's NASCAR investment w/federal taxpayer dollars. Note the term "investment" versus WCAP's "HIJACK!" approach.

Lickety Split wrote:

LIrunner wrote:

after the 5000 tonight maybe we will hear the last of Lickety

-------------------------------

Most likely .... this topic transitions to national media: my dream .... similar scrutiny as the Army & National Guard's NASCAR investment w/federal taxpayer dollars. Note the term "investment" versus WCAP's "HIJACK!" approach.

Forgot Link:

Moo Goo wrote:

The bottom line is these Army Kenyans are not fast enough to make the team in Kenya. However, they're just fast enough to take the spots from home grown US runners. Their Olympic dreams come true but the end result is these guys won't bring US any medals either. I don't know what process is involved in Army "recruiting" these guys, I hope it is not solely to have these guys run track for them. If that is the case, recruit better US runners and develop them instead.

It's an all-volunteer Army. Nothing is preventing other Americans who meet the WCAP standards from joining the Army and applying to the program.

Alan

Runningart2004 wrote:

Moo Goo wrote:

The bottom line is these Army Kenyans are not fast enough to make the team in Kenya. However, they're just fast enough to take the spots from home grown US runners. Their Olympic dreams come true but the end result is these guys won't bring US any medals either. I don't know what process is involved in Army "recruiting" these guys, I hope it is not solely to have these guys run track for them. If that is the case, recruit better US runners and develop them instead.

It's an all-volunteer Army. Nothing is preventing other Americans who meet the WCAP standards from joining the Army and applying to the program.

Alan

- I'm receiving reports that Leo Manzano's prepared to pass Chelimo the Kenyan flag for his OT Victory Lap for tonight ....

The Army on its own decided to end the NASCAR deal based on a cost benefit analysis. Do you really believe that the Army has not already done (and continually does) a cost benefit analysis of WCAP as well as other programs. During sequestration every program was carefully looked at and evaluated, as well as every contract. I am sure WCAP has been scrutinized by the right people (the right people meaning not you Lickety) and has been deemed worthwhile from a moraleand recruitment sandpoint.

- I agree that Congressional pressure spurned the Army's CBA not their legion of virtuous marketers.

- WCAP's Track & Field Program: I disagree that it's been scrutinized .... but it certainly will now given it's succesful hijack of this year's OT. Right now, I'm confident that many Rift Valley citizens are figuring out a way to enlist in the Army: WCAP's ONLY recruiting market. For the rest of the United States, I'm not tracking too many guys walking around post or high school kids at Junior Olympic track meets w/singlet's that have Kipchirchir or Korrir on their back. In fact, I'm not tracking any WCAP support to USTAF developmental events like Junior Olympics .... the latter, because I know it's FOREIGN to WCAPers, is a age-group program for American kids that supports track & field development. Oftentimes, folks like New Balance-Nike-Brooks etc sponsor these type of events for both advertising & development .... a "Win-Win for Amercia" versus a Big Army "Cost-Benefit" approach ... you all like acronyms: think WHIFMs (What's In It For Me?)

Why is WCAP discriminating against Kenyan women?

I'm not tracking too many guys walking around post or high school kids at Junior Olympic track meets w/singlet's that have Kipchirchir or Korrir on their back.

Really? Does any running company sell singlets with anyone's name on their backs?

The only interesting part of this thread is to see you get more dellusional by the day

As a Army Veteran and former runner I have no problem with them. I am sure most veterans and current military personnel do not have a problem with them running and representing. America is a melting pot. As a matter of fact I have great respect for them. I would love for it to be like it used to be years ago when "True" Americans felt it was honorable to do a stint in the military.

- Responding-in-Kind: Big Army Hubris versus the Reality cloaked in satire ... thanks for agreeing w/me that you're "layed it on a bit thick" with respect to WCAP's marketing/morale's effect on either soldiers or Americans. Of course, save for those in Eldoret.

- It's unfortunate that "Big Army" PAO isn't all over the Sgt Bor & Coach Scott Simmon's story .... true patriot's versus WCAP's "Hired Gun."

Lickety - a while ago after Army Ten Miler a former Olympian asked me about Keynans in the Army - as top 6 or so in the race were in WCAP - I told him about citizenship rules, opportunity to run in the Army, fact these guys do serve in Army (recall my earlier post about how they must add a year to their enlistment for each year in WCAP and sere those years in line units) - his response - oh, makes a lot of sense.

Just this week spoke to a Olympic trials runner -guess what -- he had no problem with the WCAP

WDOWTIN wrote:

As a Army Veteran and former runner I have no problem with them. I am sure most veterans and current military personnel do not have a problem with them running and representing. America is a melting pot. As a matter of fact I have great respect for them. I would love for it to be like it used to be years ago when "True" Americans felt it was honorable to do a stint in the military.

- If you don't have a problem with WCAP's methods then you really don't love American Track & Field

- Can you get more creative with your UNCOMPELLING anecdotals .... at least throw in a punchline, name, etc. Way to predictable ....

- So as long as their's a backend time in the Operating Forces then everythings OK ... C'mon man: these guys will hit their service limitation based on rank alone. Look forward to LTG Dahl's response to the back-end service these guys actually perform ... as a result of a forced audit.

- WCAP: It's not suprising that most OT'ers had no idea what WCAP meant until the Rift Valley Legionnaires began taking enormous number of scalps this year.

Backend service is not enforced even though required by regulation.

ChuckNorris wrote:

Backend service is not enforced even though required by regulation.

Figured .... who specifically?

Major Dan Browne

Specialist Augusta Maiyo

Specialist Paul Katam

Sgt Elkanah Kibet

Specialist Aron Rono

Lt Robert Cheseret

Specialist Paul Chelimo

Speciallist Shadrach Kipchirchir

Specialist Leonard Korir

Sergeant Elkanah Kibet