To Buddha Belly and all the other haters in this thread,
If you have not asked these guys why they joined please do not make assumptions about them and characterize them all as just wanting to make an Olympic team no matter the method or country. Just using logic would tell you that if they were looking for the easiest route to the Olympics it would probably be easier in some other country with less competition and easy citizenship standards. Why would you choose to go thru basic training losing at least six months of true training and possibly risking injury or death in the process just to try and make an Olympic team when there are easier routes available? I will tell you why. It is because they want to become US citizens and have a chance at a better life. How do I know? Because I am stationed at Fort Carson and have spoken with some of the WCAP athletes based there. Competing in WCAP is a privilege and an honor for them just as it is a privilege and an honor to serve their new country. This is what they say not me. They are extremely proud and grateful to compete and serve for the US and the Army.
Also there are numerous foreign born Soldiers that serve in the Army that are just below the standards for entry into WCAP that have degree and enlisted so that they could serve and become citizens and have a better life. I have a Soldier in my company that fits the example just described. He is the fittest and most professional Soldier in the company and everyone loves him. He joined knowing he did not have the qualifications for WCAP but still does the training in the attempt to make it. He does his real training in addition to Army PT every morning and goes out for every training event, cleans his rifle, and goes on every deployment. These guys in WCAP might not do all that but after their time is done in WCAP they still have to serve and be prepared to be called up 8 years after they leave the service. You don't make that kind of commitment of your life just for an easy route to the Olympics! You can call your comments racist or bigoted or try to cover it in legalistic terms like Confederate apologists that say the Civil War was about states rights and not slavery but in reality you all are just being hurtful, demeaning and cruel to these individuals. It makes me sick to my stomach to read these comments and I personally think you all should apologize to them.
I am proud to serve with them and proud of their accomplishments! Go Army!!
P.S. I have not seen any "true" mericans join the Army and join WCAP. Why because they would have to go thru basic and possibly deploy in the future. Way too risky and hard. And if you haven't served you should probably keep your ignorant comments to yourself.