US airmen are fighting in a war with Iran, while some Air Force members compete in international sports.

The World Class Athlete Program lets Air Force athletes train full-time while on active duty, competing and promoting the service.

The program is important as the US fights Iran, with over 13,000 targets struck since February 28.

TRUMP HONORS TWO RECORD-BREAKING ATHLETES AT US COAST GUARD ACADEMY GRADUATION CEREMONY

Anita Alvarez, Texas Tanner, and Wyatt Hendrickson are training for the 2028 Olympics, with Chad Senior as an example of an athlete turned military officer.

Anita Alvarez is seen at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Alvarez and Senior are Olympians, while Tanner and Hendrickson have won national championships.

Alvarez joined the Air Force after winning an Olympic medal and now trains full-time.

She graduated from basic training in January 2025 and is the first Olympic medalist in the Air Force's athlete program.

The Air Force has helped extend Alvarez's athletic career, allowing her to focus on training and recovery.

Alvarez said she can now focus on physical training, mental performance, and recovery.

Since joining the Air Force, Alvarez has won two World Cup bronze medals and a team acrobatic gold medal.

Alvarez is also studying and considering a career in aerospace physiology or as a pilot.

Listening to other airmen has changed how Alvarez views her athletic assignment.

Alvarez is grateful for the opportunities to compete and travel, thanks to military members serving overseas.

Tanner rose through the Air Force Academy, setting records in discus and hammer throwing.

TRUMP WARNS US 'WON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN OLYMPIC TEAM ANYMORE' WITHOUT NEW COLLEGE SPORTS REGULATIONS

Tanner set American collegiate records and finished second in the hammer and fourth in the discus at the NCAA championships.

Tanner won his first senior national championship just weeks after graduating, throwing 65.46 meters to capture the US discus title.

The performance moved Tanner closer to his goal of competing at the Los Angeles Games.

Tanner said his goal was to be a national champion, and now he wants to be the best in the world.

Tanner comes from a military family and did not expect to become a professional athlete, but the Air Force's program opened that path.

When his throwing career ends, Tanner expects to work in Air Force contracting, acquiring goods and services for the military.

Tanner wants to serve his country in more ways than one, following his family's legacy.

Hendrickson has achieved one of the most visible recent successes in the Air Force's athlete program.

Hendrickson competed against Shamil Magomed A Sharipov of Bahrain in the UWW Grand Prix Ranking Series Zagreb Open 2026.

Hendrickson defeated Olympic champion Gable Steveson to win the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship.

Hendrickson then won the 2025 Pan American championship and earned a place on the US senior world team.

In June, Hendrickson defeated world medalist Mason Parris in two consecutive matches at Final X.

Hendrickson said that if it were an Olympic year, he would be an Olympian.

STAY 'FEARLESS' ON THE GO! TAKE TOMI LAHREN WITH YOU. DOWNLOAD THE TLIF PODCAST NOW!

Hendrickson's long-term goal is an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles, thanks to the Air Force's support.

Hendrickson said the Air Force's program provides the support and resources he needs to continue wrestling.

Hendrickson acknowledged that other airmen are doing operational work he might be doing, and he hopes to repay them with a gold medal.

After wrestling, Hendrickson expects to serve as an acquisitions officer, obtaining equipment and resources for the Air Force.

Senior's career shows what the transition from international competition to military operations can look like.

Senior competed in modern pentathlon through the Army's World Class Athlete Program and finished sixth at the Sydney Games.

After the September 11 attacks, Senior left elite competition and became an Air Force combat rescue officer.

Senior served with the 920th Rescue Wing and 308th Rescue Squadron, deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Senior now works as a contractor supporting the Air Force and planning contingency rescues for human-spaceflight crews.

Senior argues that the athlete program's value cannot be measured only by medals, as athletes bring discipline and teamwork to the military.

A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle performs during a demonstration flight in Miami, Florida.

Senior views the program as an investment serving athletes, the military, and taxpayers, providing personnel who can perform under stress.

The real return, he said, comes after athletes leave competition and bring their habits back to the military.

For Alvarez, Tanner, and Hendrickson, the test remains ahead, as they have not yet carried out combat service.

Instead, they see their athletic careers as another form of representation and preparation for their future work.

Alvarez is pursuing a fourth Olympic appearance, Tanner is a national champion, and Hendrickson has earned consecutive positions on the US world team.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Their immediate objective is Los Angeles, and the Air Force's longer wager is that the discipline required to reach the Olympics will remain valuable after the competition ends.

Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covering critical issues in sports with an investigative lens.