Sisters in Arms: 2000 Olympian inspires female 'Dagger' Soldiers

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tamika Dillard | Karol Rovelto, Kansas State University Track and Field High Jump coach, spoke at the 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., first “Sister in Arms” female mentorship program meeting Oct. 1 at the Cantigny Dining Facility. Rovelto spoke on the importance of setting goals and the motivation it takes to achieve those goals.  

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

10.01.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Tamika Dillard 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT RILEY, Kan. – The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division began its “Sisters in Arms” female mentorship program Oct. 1 at the Cantigny Dining Facility, with support from Kansas State University’s Track and Field High Jump Coach and 2000 Olympian Karol Damon-Rovelto.

“The brigade’s female mentorship program bridges the information gap between junior and senior female Soldiers … no matter their rank,” Sgt. 1st Class Peacelyn Green, a 19-year veteran serving as the “Sister in Arms” coordinator. “It gives female Soldiers an opportunity to share stories and experiences, conveying things they wish they had known coming up through the ranks as young officers and Soldiers.”

“I plan to [conduct] meetings quarterly to discuss topics, such as leader development, pregnancy, appearance and grooming standards and physical fitness,” said Green, a native of Columbia, South Carolina.

To open up its first meeting, the brigade welcomed guest speaker Karol Damon-Rovelto.

As Damon-Rovelto spoke, a crowd of more than 50 female “Dagger” Soldiers, ranging from private to major, listened attentively as she shared her personal experiences as a University of Colorado student athlete and as an assistant coach for K-State’s Track and Field high jumpers.

“When I decided I wanted to be a high jumper, I knew the first thing I needed to do was set goals for myself,” Damon-Rovelto said. “Setting goals pushed me to continue to work harder and harder so that I could jump higher each time I went out to compete. My goals were my motivation.”

Damon-Rovelto shared with the female Soldiers that as a track-and-field student athlete she, didn’t have as much support from teammates as she sees when she is around the military.

“Track and Field is an individual sport,” Damon-Rovelto said. “As a student athlete, I didn’t have anyone to say to me, ‘come on, let’s go for a run’ or ‘let’s go to the gym.’ I had to do this all on my own.”

That all changed once Rovelto became an assistance coach.

“Once I became a coach, I wanted to do more for my student athletes,” Damon-Rovelto said. “I checked to make sure they were setting goals for themselves and that they had the necessary tools in place to reach their goals. It similar to what your NCOs do for their Soldiers.”

Following her speech, Lt. Col. C.J. King, 299th BSB battalion commander, thanked Damon-Rovelto for taking the time to address the Soldiers. He then presented her with a group picture the battalion took with the K-State track team earlier in the year.

For one Soldier who is pregnant and part of a dual-military couples program, the mentorship seemed to be a breath of fresh air.

“Knowing that we have this program inspires me to want to stay in the Army,” said Piseco, New York native Pfc. Geisha Jones of Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, 2nd ABCT. “I now can talk with other females who have been in this situation and get the information I need. I feel like I have a chance at an Army career.”

• Date Taken: 10.01.2014
• Date Posted: 10.17.2014 15:58
• Story ID: 145374
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US
• Hometown: COLUMBIA, SC, US
• Hometown: MANHATTAN, KS, US
• Hometown: PISECO, NY, US