Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention
SHARP is a proactive U.S. Army program which aims to end sexual harassment and assault in the service.[1]
It has full-time staff at the brigade level and higher,[2] and maintains a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook. See: SAPRO[3] Since 2005, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on the program.[4]
Expectations for the Army
On 8 Dec 2020 the secretary of the Army announced the SHARP program has failed to meet its mandate, notably in Fort Hood command culture and that an action plan would address its shortcomings, beginning with the suspension of 14 of its senior leaders.[5] Similar incidents at Camp Casey, South Korea have led to a suicide after it took 82 days to complete an expedited transfer away from Camp Casey to Fort Carson.[4] In December 2020 the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, USFK defined a Continuum of Harm, ranging from Healthy behaviors and descending through five sexual behaviors to remedy.[6]
“Deeds, Not Words.” Pretty good guidance. Words from the secretary and chief are important, to be sure. More important will be the policies they change, and the priority and resources they assign to this challenge. Most important will be to show through their actions that leaders at every level will be held accountable._Carter F. Ham[7]
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has directed every senior leader to report on their sexual assault prevention programs, with an assessment of what has worked, and what hasn't, by 5 Feb 2021. Austin "asked for relevant data for the past decade, including efforts to support victims".[8][9]
External links
References
- n/a, n/a (n/a). "Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program". United States Army Europe. Retrieved 2018-01-29. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - n/a, n/a (n/a). "Resources: Be the force behind the fight. Sexual harassment and sexual assault have no place in the Armed Forces. You have a voice, you have rights and we're here to help". ArmyMWR. Retrieved 2018-01-30. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - Terri Moon Cronk, Defense.gov (November 4, 2020) SAPRO director pledges 'zero tolerance' for sexual assault, harassment Sexual assault prevention and response office (SAPRO) DoD level
- Norah O'Donnell et.al. (November 17, 2020) Parents of soldier who died by suicide after sexual assaults call out "complete failure of the Army"
- Ryan Morgan (8 Dec 2020) Video: Army Secretary says Army’s sexual assault prevention program ‘hasn’t achieved its mandate’
- 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (December 2020) SHARP training focuses on mid-level leaders
- CARTER F. HAM (23 Dec 2020) AFTER FORT HOOD, THE U.S. ARMY WILL SUCCEED OR FAIL ON TRUST
- Lolita Baldor (23 Jan 2021) Defense chief orders review of military sex assault programs
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (23 Jan 2021) Countering sexual assault and harassment— Initial tasking Memorandum for senior Pentagon leadership, commanders of the Combatant commands, Defense agency and DoD field activity directors