Olympic Athlete Mobilized for Iraq

Associated Press | Thursday, December 11

[mark502inf]

Rohbock mobilized for duty in Iraq

SALT LAKE CITY -- Bobsled driver Shauna Rohbock has been mobilized by the Utah National Guard for deployment to Iraq, ending her current World Cup competition, and -- she fears -- her Olympic dreams.

Rohbock, 26, of Orem was among 500 Utah National Guard soldiers called to active duty earlier this month. She and other members of the 115th Engineer Group will complete training at Camp Williams before reporting to Fort Carson, Colo., in early January for final preparations before leaving for the Persian Gulf.

"Obviously I'm devastated, because this ends my Olympic dreams," she told The Salt Lake Tribune Wednesday night after military night training. "It would be impossible to come back as a driver and miss so much.

"I said I would defend my country, and obviously it has come to that."

The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation was notified last Friday that she had been called up and would miss that weekend's World Cup competition at Lake Placid.

"It's going to be devastating to the U.S. bobsled team to lose her," U.S. women's coach Bill Tavares said. "Shauna's departure from the United States team will greatly affect the U.S. women's bobsled standings on the World Cup circuit."

Rohbock formerly played on the Brigham Young University women's soccer team and now plays with the San Diego Spirit.

She also belongs to the Army's World Class Athlete Program, based in Colorado Springs, which provides athletes pay and benefits while they compete for their country. She was among 13 Army athletes who competed in the 2002 Games,

"She is the first athlete in the program to be deployed since 9-11," said the program's commander, Maj. Michael Hagen. "Everyone understands that they could be pulled out of WCAP if the Army needs them to serve."

Her father, Charles Rohbock of Orem, said, "Shauna was recruited in the military as an athlete, was told by military sources that she would represent herself as an athlete. As a father, no one wants to see a son or daughter go to war. She's willing to do her part. I believe she's much more valuable to the Army as an athlete than as a soldier."

The deployment could keep her away for up to 18 months.

[mark502inf]

Dad wasn't too happy, but she is ready & willing, although understandably disappointed.

[Randjuke]

Shauna was recruited in the military as an athlete, was told by military sources that she would represent herself as an athlete.

I don't understand this part - the Army recruits athletes solely to be athletes?

[Moosilauke]

I don't understand this part - the Army recruits athletes solely to be athletes?

Sure doesn't work that way at West Point, does it?

[OldFriend]

West Point definitely recruits scholar athletes. What happens afterwards I have no idea.

[caisson71]

I don't think West Point has put any emhasis in recruiting athletes of the sake of athletics. My goodness, look at their football season record. They need good graduates to make up for the decimation of the military by the Klintoons.

[mark502inf]

Afterwards, they go into the Army and do their duty. Michie Stadium, where West Point plays football, is named after Army's first football team captain--he was killed in action in the Spanish American War. Shea Stadium, where the Army track team competes is named after an Army All-American and subsequent Medal of Honor winner in Korea. The quarterback from Army's team of a couple years ago is an infantry platoon leader in Iraq today. The captain of West Point's lacrosse team from a couple year's back also earned All-American honors--he was leading his men in Iraq this past spring when he was wounded and lost his leg. However they get into West Point, when they graduate they are all Army lieutenants and are expected to lead from the front.

[Parmy]

Regardless of your particular MOS, you are a rifleman/woman first.

[OldFriend]

Thanks. My daughter was heavily recruited by a general at West Point. She was her school's scholar athlete, receiving state recognition in soccer and track. She had an outstanding academic record and found the time for community service too. She chose not to pursue the offer so we really had no idea what life at the school would have been like.

However, it was extremely naive of this girl and/or her parents to believe she would not have to serve in the military.

[mark502inf]

Sounds like your daughter is quite an accomplished young woman!