(Charlie Riedel/ASSOCIATED PRESS) - An athlete crosses the Olympic rings at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The u.S. military sent 21 athletes to the Games.
I am an Olympics fanatic. Swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, track and field, water polo — you name it, I’m watching every minute of it. Our athletes are representing us well.
There are all kinds of sports-related opportunities in the federal government.
Many athletes might not realize that they can simultaneously do their sport and serve their country. The Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard all have programs that allow service members who are athletes to train and compete on teams and in national and international competitions.
The Armed Forces Sports program is open to all active-duty personnel, including reservists and National Guardsmen on active-duty status. Service members, 21 of them in fact, qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
Each military branch has a program. The Army has the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). It identifies exceptional soldier-athletes and allows them to compete in events that lead to qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team. Through Army funding, WCAP soldier-athletes receive the best coaching, training venues, and state-of-the-art sports medicine.
Participants promote goodwill and a positive image of the military; encourage physical fitness; and contribute to the recruitment, retention and readiness of service members. More information about branch programs can be found online at SportsLink.
The programs are usually jointly or entirely run by civilian federal workers. The Army’s Installation Command (IMCOM) oversees the Army’s sports program. Commands such as IMCOM are also in charge of fitness centers on bases.
The Web site USAJobs lists IMCOM openings for trainers, recreation assistants and program associates all around the world. One current opening is for a program associate (sports and fitness) in Ansbach, Germany, working with the assistant sports and fitness director for children and youth services.
Even the State Department has a sports program. Its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs runs programs focused on “sports diplomacy” to help transcend cultural differences. The idea is that sports teaches leadership, teamwork, respect for rules and respect for one another.
This bureau runs the Sports Visitors Program, which brings selected athletes, managers and coaches to the United States for technical sports training, sports management, conflict resolution training and exposure to valuable U.S. sports contacts. Participants are encouraged to hold clinics for youth when they go home.
There’s also the Sports Envoys Program, in which national sports leagues and the U.S. Olympic Committee, athletes and coaches are chosen to serve as envoys or ambassadors. Grants are also dispensed. U.S. nonprofit groups can submit proposals to improve the infrastructure of youth sports programs. For more information, go to: www.exchanges.state. gov/sports.
These are just a few of the sports programs in the federal government just waiting for your talents and athleticism.
Derrick Dortch, president of the Diversa Group, is a career counselor who specializes in government job searches and military transition.
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