Airman Anita Alvarez smiles with her family after the Basic Military Training Coin Ceremony, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, January 8, 2025. Alvarez is a three-time Olympic athlete joining the Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program upon graduation from Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2d Lt Kate Anderson)
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas —
Three-time Olympic athlete, Anita Alvarez, graduates Air Force Basic Military Training on Jan. 9.
After winning a silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Alvarez made her way to the 737th Training Group to complete 7.5 weeks of basic military training. The newly graduated athlete is now also known as Airman Alvarez.
“My BMT experience is one I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” said Airman Alvarez. “The regimen, discipline, teamwork and resilience needed to get through the past 7.5 weeks felt similar to what was needed to make it to and through three Olympic games and all the challenges I’ve faced along the way.”
Alvarez is one of 781 airmen to graduate from BMT this week. However, her Air Force journey will look a little different than most. Alvarez will be joining a premier group of athletes in the Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program to continue her training as an artistic swimmer.
Dale Filsell, Chief, Department of the Air Force WCAP and Shooting Program, shares, “DAF WCAP affords elite athletes, such as Airman Alvarez, the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic games and proudly serve their country at the same time.”
The DAF WCAP, managed by Air Force Services Center, was established in 1995 and is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve Air Force and Space Force personnel who rank the highest in their sports. Since its inception, 14 WCAP athletes have represented Team USA at the Summer and Winter Olympics.
“The DAF WCAP is delighted to welcome Airman Anita Alvarez to the program,” said Filsell “Airman Alvarez is WCAP’s first-ever recruited Olympic medalist and the program is looking forward to supporting Airman Alvarez as she trains and competes to become a four-time Olympian at the LA28 Summer Olympics.”
Although WCAP athletes train full-time in their given sport, they are also required to complete all annual and ancillary training, professional military education, fitness assessments and other mandatory tasks required of all Airmen and Guardians.
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- Trainee Anita Alvarez, 331st Training Squadron, leads from the front during the run portion of her official physical fitness test during week five of Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on December 23, 2024. Alvarez is a three-time Olympic athlete joining the Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program upon graduation from Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory Walker)
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- Trainee Anita Alvarez, 331st Training Squadron, hangs from the bars during the Confidence Course at PACER FORGE during one of her final weeks at Basic Military Training on Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Annex, Texas on January 2, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Daniel Cruz)
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- Trainee Anita Alvarez, 331st Training Squadron, completes the push up portion of her official physical fitness test during week five of Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on December 23, 2024. Alvarez is a three-time Olympic athlete joining the Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program upon graduation from Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory Walker)
For more information about the Air Force World Class Athlete Program visit their website: myairforcelife.com/air-force-wcap
By 2nd Lt Kate Anderson, 37th Training Wing Public Affairs
We’re spending tax dollars on synchronized swimming
We sure could use people on the flight line. Why waste them on swimming?
“Mission first” has unfortunately become another company line that we only care about on a selectively convenient basis.
WCAP needs to go the way of Tops in Blue, along with all the regional AF bands and various other boondoggles. I’m sure she’s great and I appreciate her joining up but we need her out there jobbing it.
We could utilize Airmen with her level of drive to great effect on the line instead of for public affairs shtick.
Something like WCAP even existing while there are chronically undermanned squadrons with shoestring budgets working 14+ hour shifts 7 days a week is infuriating.