Did you know that the Army has a program that allows active duty, National Guard, and reserve soldiers to train for and participate in the Olympic games? It's called the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). While working with coaches to hone their skills in their particular Olympic game, they also attend military schools and stay current in their military occupational specialty.
These year six soldiers turned athletes will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin, Spc. Sean Doherty, Sgt. Frank Del Duca (who will serve as one of America's flagbearers at the opening ceremony), Spc. Azaria Hill, Sgt. Ben Loomis, and Pvt. Spencer Howe will be attending and participating in the biathlon, bobsled, Nordic combined, and paired figure skating.
Staff Sgt. Irwin placed 7th in the women's 15-kilometer biathlon in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. She finished at 44 minutes, having hit 19 or 20 targets. "If you look at my last Olympics, I was unranked, and if I had shot 20 of 20, I would have medaled," Irwin, who serves as a human resources specialist, said. "So, the chances are there. It depends on shooting and skiing that day — and on what everyone else does."
Spc. Hill comes from a family tradition of Olympic medalists. Her dad, Virgil Hill, took the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in boxing, while her mom, Denean Howard-Hill, won gold and silver in 1988 and 1992 in the 1600-meter relay. Serving as an 88M transport specialist, she is now training for the two-woman bobsled event. "My parents are super excited to experience this from the other side," she said. "They’re happy. Making the team is the result of all the hard work I’ve put in with my coaches."
"WCAP supports you not just as an athlete, but as a person and a Soldier,” Spc. Doherty, who serves in motor transport, said. “They care about my athletic performance, but they also care about my development as a whole person, and I’m grateful for that. The options and stability are valuable and adds another dimension to my life and career."