You will NEVER stamp out SHARP violations (and two other points)...thoughts?

2014-04-26T13:02:48-04:00

I had my interview to be the BN SHARP rep yesterday with my BDE CDR and told him these things. I won't put him on record with his responses because that's not my place to do so, but curious if you agree. Also when I say we or whatever, it doesn't mean my unit but the Army in general.

1) I think a lot of people are afraid to say it but it's true. You will never eliminate sexual harassment. EVER.
The American military is a subset of the population and you will always have people doing things they shouldn't be. The goal of SHARP is to minimize the "threat" as much as possible and educate people on the way to eliminate the threat by chapter, court martial, etc.

2) The current training for SHARP is horrible. It's boring and it loses Soldiers. We need to find better ways to keep the attention of the participants and train without just trying to meet the standard. Right now we have a lot of "oh crap it's the end of the quarter we need more training" type classes going on.

3) You can have the best SHARP program in the world, have the most knowledgeable SHARP reps on earth, and the best classes, but if people in the organization (especially SHARP reps) aren't approachable, the victims and witnesses aren't going to report. So they may know full well they witnessed something wrong, or were the victim of something wrong, but so what if they don't feel comfortable going to their reps/commanders/1SGs.

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made Apr 26 at 2014 3:28 PM

2014-04-26T15:28:06-04:00

Great & honest answer to your interview, hope you get the job, sounds like you'd make a great SHARP rep.

Good education is key.

While we might never eliminate it ever, we should try to continue to reduce it.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 3:53 PM

2014-04-26T15:53:34-04:00

Here is where I part company with the entire SHARP training and management concept.

While the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution requires us to make every effort to facilitate nondiscrimination in government and other employment, including fighting sexual harassment in the workplace, the real evil here is lumping criminal sexual assault (rape) into the same training and management program with harassment.

This leads to perception that criminal sexual assault is little more serious than sexual harassment therefore unlikely to result in any criminal charge.

We need to make an example of individuals who commit criminal sexual assault both within and well beyond their service to bring rape to an end.

The problem is too many officers have been treating SHARP violations like speeding tickets.

Whether we bring the death penalty back into the UCMJ or use extrajudicial means to terminate the desire, capacity, and ability of individuals to engage in this practice, we must end rape in the military.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Apr 26 at 2014 4:06 PM

2014-04-26T16:06:11-04:00

In my opinion, the Army's SHARP Program is not about eradicating sexual harassment and sexual assault, but to prevent crimes, assist and protect victims, education and hold everyone responsible for their action or inaction.

The most effective training would be quarterly small group facilitation (specific) and shorter large groups sessions (overview).

I'd also like to see some sort of "Army Preliminary SHARP Report" like the Safety Center sends out (Army Preliminary Loss Reports).

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Apr 26 at 2014 4:47 PM

2014-04-26T16:47:16-04:00

Great answers, I especially like the candor and honesty in your replies.

I am interested to know if you provided him options for fixing your second point recommendation of finding better ways to keep the attention of participants? If not, and you are selected, I expect he will expect you to provide fixes to the system.

I hate buzzwords, but we truly need to "get to the left of the incident". Many instances our at-risk population are newly arrived, young (very impressionable) Soldiers. You combine that with binge drinking and you have an extremely vulnerable person.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Apr 26 at 2014 6:53 PM

2014-04-26T18:53:44-04:00

I've said it a million times before: leaders need to ask the millions of victims for ways to improve the SHARP Program and stop trying to come up with things that "make sense" to them and stop relying on things "working like they're suppose to".

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 8:17 PM

2014-04-26T20:17:34-04:00

Sexual harassment & assault are like any other criminal activity; just because we can't eliminate them doesn't mean we shouldn't try. We'll never eliminate murder either. As for the Army's dwindling number of all-male units, I recommend annual SHARP training consist of the Smadge or 1SG saying verbatim, "If you wouldn't want someone doing or saying it to your mother, wife, daughter, or sister; don't do it." That's all we need.

Response by MSgt Billy McDonough made Apr 26 at 2014 10:29 PM

2014-04-26T22:29:12-04:00

Spent the majority of my career in the USAF but the questions apply no matter what uniform you wear. You cant eliminate it but we are minimizing it and need to continue to work to do so. Removing Commanders from the decision to prosecute and deciding punishment upon conviction is the best way to go. Commanders are not lawyers, judges, or social workers and are thus completely unprepared and incompetent to render an appropriate judgement. I've had some great commanders and some that I might even trust to handle such situations but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Response by SGT Anthony Bussing made May 10 at 2015 11:42 PM

2015-05-10T23:42:13-04:00

personally...anyone who gets convicted of a sexual assault or rape should just be out down...

Response by SPC Angel Guma made May 10 at 2015 11:54 PM

2015-05-10T23:54:01-04:00

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with most people's opinions here. I will say this though: we have to wonder what's wrong with each new generation of 'leaders' that replaces the previous generation when the Army wastes millions, if not billions, on SHARP while sexual abuse (not to mention toxic leadership and suicide) goes on as if nothing has changed. And I apologize up front if its offensive to some- but sexual abuse and the other problems mentioned have long been either swept under the rug or hush-hushed, in general irrespective of branch of service.

And not that it matters or pertains to the military as well, but inwardly, this is why I get more disappointed with people as I get older. I remember quite clearly 'keep your hands to yourself' was taught in preschool back in 1991. Now, when I'm already starting to get older than most NCO's and mid-grade officers, I just wonder what the heck happened to these idiots when they were kids. SHARP should not be necessary if people had maturity and common sense. One of the Rally Point members here posted an absolute case study in this. A SHARP NCO who ran a prostitution ring! I don't think Shakespeare himself, if he came back from the dead, could think of a greater case of blatant hypocrisy.

I'm not saying that SHARP is unnecessary either, as well as suicide prevention. But one has to wonder when they continually pump out more 'classes' and mandatory training on these subjects, just to have these same joes commit exactly what these classes told them not to do. Just basic preschool morality people. At the rate things are going, pretty soon every NCO in the entire Army will have to be a SHARP NCO, they will make classes and other what-nots so awful and time consuming that I hope they come out with tabs for it.

I hope those that are left will recognize, after they get E-6 or O-3 that the rules of honor still apply. Do unto others as you want done onto yourself, no means no, keep your hands to yourself, and asserting leadership does not mean shitting on your subordinates is right or earns their respect, and above all, maybe prioritizing winning battles and wars instead of bullet points on your NCOER/OER is a better method of leading soldiers both in garrison and on deployments.

Sorry for the rant

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 12:00 AM

2015-05-11T00:00:02-04:00

With regards to #3 you are exactly right. Strangely enough I went to a 1 week brand new course that deal with just that. It's not Army wide yet but it really has the potential to change the culture and the best part was its not another SHARP class.
Unless we change the culture we will never truly minimize assaults. Will it ever go away...no. Honestly we are a snap shot of the American public and what happens in civilian land will happen in Army land. But we can and need to be better.