Eric Kapitulik is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he was a four-year varsity letter recipient on their Division 1 lacrosse team.

​After graduation in 1995, Eric went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps as both an Infantry Officer and Special Operations Officer with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Marine Division. ​In 1999, during a routine training mission to prepare for an upcoming deployment to the Persian Gulf, Eric and his Force Recon platoon were in a helicopter crash that resulted in the death of six of his Marines. In an effort to raise money for a college scholarship fund set up for the children of his deceased teammates, Eric has completed eight Ironman Triathlons, The Canadian Death Race Ultra Marathon, The Eco Challenge, and The American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon. He is also an avid mountaineer and has summited five of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents): Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Aconcagua, Mt. Elbrus, and Mt. Everest.

​Eric left active duty after eight years of service and received his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 2005. He founded The Program in 2008.

The Program is North America’s #1 veteran-owned team building and leadership development resource for corporations and sports teams. The team offers a unique combination of elite military and pro-athletic experience to help clients develop great teammates, great leaders, and world-class teams.

$25 for athlete & parent, plus $15 for each additional family member