Around a dozen US military personnel are expected to compete at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan—alongside several other servicemembers serving as coaches or trainers.

More than a dozen United States active-duty service members will temporary trade their military uniforms for Team USA uniforms next month when they compete in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Among those are two airmen serving in United States Air Force, who are also members of Department of the Air Force’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).

“Staff Sgt. Kelly Curtis is set to compete in skeleton, while Senior Airman Jasmine Jones will compete in bobsleigh,” the Air Force announced.

“This accomplishment deserves more than just congratulations. Olympians, you represent the pinnacle of athleticism and the warrior mindset that defines our Air Force,” explained Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier. “We are so proud to have you represent the Air Force and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Your performance on the world stage demonstrates a critical link among physical fitness, a commitment to excellence, and military readiness. With all of our support: go fight, go win, go Air Force!”

The two airmen will travel to Italy with approximately 15 US Army soldiers, who will either compete or serve as coaches in the upcoming games. These include Spc. Sean Doherty, who is competing in his fourth Olympic Games in biathlon, and Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin, competing in the sport for a second time. Army Sgt. Frank Del Duca is also competing in the bobsled.

“Lt. Col. Christopher Fogt, Lt. Col. Garrett Hines, and Sgt. 1st Class Shauna Rohbock have been named to the 2026 US Olympic Team,” the Army WCAP explained. “As leaders and mentors, they will guide Team USA men’s and women’s teams in Milan–Cortina, continuing a legacy of excellence, discipline, and Olympic success.”

Among the soldiers who are expected to head to Milan for the first time are Private Second Class Spencer Howe, competing in pairs figure skating, and Specialist Azaria Hill, who is part of the US Olympic Bobsled Team.

A total of 12 US Army WCAP soldiers have been training for the games. Both the US Army and US Air Force offer opportunities via their WCAP programs.

Although the United States Marine Corps doesn’t have its own program, active-duty Marine Corps Captain Riley Tejcek did make the US Olympic Bobsled team, becoming the first Marine to compete in the sport at the Olympic Games. Commissioned in 2019 as a supply officer, she was previously named “Ms. Military 2023.”

The US Military Has Long Sent Athletes to the Olympics

The US military has often seen its personnel compete for Olympic glory. Since 1948, nearly 500 US Army soldiers have represented the USA in the games, and service members have won more than 110 medals in various sports, including shooting, wrestling, and track and field.

John Bryant Paine, a lieutenant in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, is recognized as being the first member of the US military not only to compete, but also to win a medal. He was among the American athletes who competed in the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896, where he won a pistol event.

Years before earning fame for his service in World War II as a firebrand officer, George S. Patton competed in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games. The future general finished fifth in the modern pentathlon, and he might have earned a medal had it not been for a controversy in the pistol-shooting event. The judges ruled that Patton completely missed the target with one of his shots, while he argued that he was such a fine marksman that one of his bullets had gone through an existing hole. The truth, of course, will never be known.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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