WCAP Army program whats is the Catch?

The catch is Iraq and Afghanistan, future soldier.

The army recruiter said that people in the program won't be shipped out. But I don't know if he is bullshitting me or not

It's one of those General's Boutiuqe programs of waste and duplication that makes the Pentagon look very bad. It's a political football constantly being tossed about at the capitol, i.e. the USAF has the para jumpers, the Navy has the seals, and the Army has football teams and sports teams for enlisted, etc.

Ask Jason Stewart about being deployed. He was an All-American from west Point that got into the WCAP program. He ended up in the shite in Bosnia in full combat, and he was an officer. You sign with the devil, he will come to collect...one day and you'll find yourself burning in the sand.

Clutch wrote:

I was recently confronted by an Army recruiter about the Olympic hopeful Army program called WCAP:

http://www.armywcap.com

I was wondering if anyone knows about this program and if it is worth ones wild, as a post colligate athlete, to venture forth.

The army recruiter and I talked about the program in great detail but I was wondering if someone had a real perspective on the program and not one from a person who is paid to do so.

Get everything in writing. If he says that you won't be going to Iraq or Afghanistan, then he won't mind putting that into you enlistment papers. That aren't boiler-plate, they can and do add things, and if they want you and are honest about not being shipped out then they won't mind putting it into your contract.

The recruiter doesn't pull any strings. In fact he may actually type up a letter for you and sign it himself. After you're off to boot camp, you can wipe your ass with it.

Congrats for considering the armed service - that being said ... "the army recruiter said... " doesn't mean anything.

Clutch wrote:

The army recruiter said that people in the program won't be shipped out. But I don't know if he is bullshitting me or not

Runner THX1137 wrote:

Ask Jason Stewart about being deployed. He was an All-American from west Point that got into the WCAP program. He ended up in the shite in Bosnia in full combat, and he was an officer. You sign with the devil, he will come to collect...one day and you'll find yourself burning in the sand.

Jason actually went to Bosnia BEFORE he went to WCAP. I don't believe he was actually accepted to WCAP until after he came back. Same thing with Mike Bernstien, went to Fort Hood for a few months and then went to WCAP with the group that included Stewart. Makes no difference if you are an officer or enlisted.

Also, while Jason did deploy to Bosnia, and was up to his @ss in mud, I wouldn't call it "full combat". To do so is laughable.

If you are considering any of the military athlete programs the simple rule is don't do it unless you are committed to military service first and to your running second.

Do not trust it.

The guy's job is to get you to join. After that, what he said means NOTHING.

Unless you have papers from the WCAP overseer specifically, be very cautious.

Recruiter do not tend to know much about the WCAP and tend to get it confused with All Army teams. Nate P can give you the best insight into the WCAP on this board. That being said I know you must meet fairly strict qualifications standards, be recommended by your chain of command and go through a try out camp of some sort. If selected you are in until the next Olympics. Failure to qualify for the team means you may be sent back to a unit or kept in the program. All Army is much less competitive and is more for club type runners who work full time missions and train on their own.

Right now there are not a whole lot of runners in the WCAP as it is dominated by shooters, boxers and wrestlers. As has been stated on this board MANY times before in previous threads you are a Soldier first and athlete second. Nate P joined the program after his deployment to Iraq which I assume helped give him a little wiggle room and went into the selection consideration. One must be exceptionally good to go straight from the street to the program. As for being a waste of money it is supported by MWR funds which come directly from purchases at commissaries and PXs thus the Soldiers support the program themselves.

Dan, is it true you're coming to Ft Carson later this year? san

I was scheduled to go to Carson this winter but they changed my orders at the very last minute (about 5 days before I was to leave). I am heading to an Infantry unit in Germany instead. My plans for training at altitude and actually breaking 2:30 will have to be scrapped for now.

Dan Browne is a product of that program.

I think he did just fine.

Hey Kevin,

DON'T JOIN THE ARMY.

Lovingly,

The Carleton House.

Clutch,

It is a great program but keep in mind, we are a nation at war and if you are interested, apply but also that you are a Soldier first, athlete second. A recruiter cannot give you the option in your enlistment contract to automatically come to wcap after basic training. Go to the website and contact our sports specialist first. Many folks think the wcap Soldiers are a waste of tax payer money but truth is there are many Soldiers who have been deployed (myself included) and others who are currently deployed and are in the reaaplication process who comprise the wcap program.

Nate

www.wcapsoldier.blogspot.com

Dan, sorry to hear your not coming to Carson, would have loved to have finally had someone to train with here:( Be safe in Germany. I was in Belgium for nearly two years, great place to be stationed. Nate

Since you don't know the difference between while and wild then the military probably is your best bet.

Get any dates through running-singles.com yet, Natey?