Does the SHARP program really work?

The SHARP program gets a bad reputation for not being effective. Let’s set the record straight on what the SHARP program has to offer, how leaders can ensure the program is more effective, and of course the changes that really need to be implemented in order to help Soldiers the best way possible.

 

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First things first…

 

What is the SHARP program?

 

SHARP stands for Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention. It is a Commander’s program intended to end sexual harassment and sexual assault within our ranks.

 

Every unit should have an assigned, credentialed Victim Advocate (VA). There will also be a credentialed Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) assigned to each Battalion or higher depending on the strength of their downtrace units.

 

The SHARP program is a victim-based effort. This means that it is meant to provide resources to victims of sexual assault and complainants of sexual harassment.

 

Credentialed VAs and SARCs give annual training to their respective units as a means to discuss what the program has to offer and to caution anyone from behaving in an inappropriate manner.

 

What services does the SHARP program offer?

 

The services that the SHARP program has to offer depends on what the Soldier elects to do. There is a different process for sexual harassment complaints, restricted reporting, and unrestricted reporting. The latter two pertain to sexual assault.

 

What does the SHARP process look like for sexual harassment complaints?

 

There are different ways that a sexual harassment complaint can be addressed. If a Soldier approaches their SHARP rep and discloses that another Soldier is exhibiting inappropriate behavior, the SHARP rep will ask how that Soldier would like the issue to be addressed.

 

One of the main goals behind the SHARP program’s mission to to empower Soldiers, which is why you’ll see me repeat over and over again that victims/complainants have a choice in their path towards restitution (within reason, of course).

 

Informal Sexual Harassment Complaints

 

The Soldier can choose to approach the offender and tell them that their behavior is unacceptable and/or that it makes them feel uncomfortable.

 

The Soldier can have a peer, leadership, and/or their SHARP rep approach the offender and tell them that their behavior is unacceptable. This approach can be done in a myriad of ways. Face-to-face, phone conversation, or an email stating that the offender has been warned and if they continue to exhibit the inappropriate behavior then the formal complaint process will ensue.

 

The Soldier’s chain of command and/or SHARP rep can address the issue during formation in an anonymous matter. Although they will need to ensure that the offender is present during this time. Essentially saying something to the effect of, “It’s been brought to my attention that ______________ is happening within our ranks. This is unacceptable behavior and goes against regulation. If anyone in this formation is doing _____________, take this as a heads up to stop. If ________________ continues to happen, then we will pursue further action.”

 

Formal Sexual Harassment Complaint

 

Formal complaints are filed using a DA Form 7746, Sexual Harassment Complaint Form. The complainant will need to swear to the accuracy of the information.  This document is filed through the brigade level SARC or higher.

 

If you are Guard or Reserves, the person accepting the report might look a little different. In our state, EO handles sexual harassment cases; so it’s important to ask these questions with your SHARP rep to see how your particular organization processes them.

 

When a Soldier decides to file a formal complaint, a 15-6 is usually involved. This is a Commander’s investigation and they will assign an officer to investigate the case. The officer is supposed to get with the SARC/EOL to develop a list of questions to determine if there is evidence to substantiate the complaint.

 

This is where things get a little sticky (in my own opinion). . . The officer they assign is supposed to be unbiased, completely third party perspective, and have enough rank on their chest so that they don’t get pushed around during the investigation. Although I have seen some great IOs, there’s just too much politics when it comes to allowing someone from your own organization to serve as an IO. . . Not to mention most, if not all, do NOT have any legal/criminal investigative background that would warrant any sort of credentials to be conducting investigations.

 

The “I am Vanessa Guillen” act intends to rectify those issues by mandating actual third party, qualified, individuals outside of their organization to conduct the investigation.

 

During the duration of the investigation, anyone involved is covered under a reprisal/retaliation prevention plan. This is why it is so important for the complainant to inform their SHARP rep if they feel that they are being retaliated against in any way. The main job of your VA is to advocate for your rights. If they are too timid to do that, then ask for a new victim advocate.

 

What does the SHARP process look like for sexual assault reports?

 

Before a Soldier decides to file a report, it is important to note that they can speak to a credentialed Victim Advocate and their conversation will remain confidential. That way, if the Soldier decides they aren’t ready to make a report, then they don’t need to worry about their story getting out. The only way this is usurped is if the Soldier discloses their story to someone in a leadership position (e.g. Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Squad Leader, etc).

 

Oftentimes, Soldiers think that if they speak with a VA/SARC that they NEED to file a report. That is simply not true. Even though we encourage Soldiers to report incidents of sexual assault, our primary goal is to support our clients.

 

Restricted reports in the Army

 

Here’s what it means and what the Soldier will receive when they elect to file a restricted report:

• Medical services: a Soldier can receive a sexual assault forensic exam to collect evidence of the crime, determine if there are any injuries, and evaluate the overall health of the individual. This exam must be conduct ASAP after the crime has been committed to ensure evidence is still present. For active duty, evidence is handed to installation law enforcement for storage. For Guard and Reserves, the entity collecting the evidence has their own storage procedures.
• Behavioral Health: a Soldier can receive therapy through the military organization or through a crisis center.
• Special Victim’s counsel: a Soldier can receive legal advice from their designated SVC. For guard and reserve, the SVC is region based meaning that their SVC might not be local so communication might occur through phone or email.
• Advocacy services: a Soldier will continue to receive resources through the SHARP program. A victim advocate should be in touch with their client at least once a month depending on how much support their client requests/needs.
• The CATCH Program: this program was created back in 2019 as a means to hold offenders accountable while maintaining the anonymity of the victim. If a Soldier elects to participate in the CATCH program, their VA/SARC will enter information about the offender into CATCH’s database. If there is another entry into the database that matches the offender’s information, it will notify the VA/SARC. The VA/SARC will then notify their client that there was a match in the system and ask if that Soldier would like to change their report from restricted to unrestricted. The CATCH program is a beautiful loophole that really capitalizes on the fact that victims of sexual assault feel much more safe, confident, and less isolated knowing that they are not alone. Another way to explain it is if you have one stick, you can easily snap that stick in half. But if you have a group of sticks, it is much harder to break them all when they are together.

 

Unrestricted reports in the Army

 

Here’s what it means and what the Soldier will receive when they elect to file an unrestricted report:

• Medical services: a Soldier can receive a sexual assault forensic exam to collect evidence of the crime, determine if there are any injuries, and evaluate the overall health of the individual. This exam must be conduct ASAP after the crime has been committed to ensure evidence is still present. For active duty, evidence is handed to installation law enforcement for storage. For Guard and Reserves, the entity collecting the evidence has their own storage procedures.
• Behavioral Health: a Soldier can receive therapy through the military organization or through a crisis center.
• Special Victim’s counsel: a Soldier can receive legal advice from their designated SVC. For guard and reserve, the SVC is region based meaning that their SVC might not be local so communication might occur through phone or email.
• Advocacy services: a Soldier will continue to receive resources through the SHARP program. A victim advocate should be in touch with their client at least once a month depending on how much support their client requests/needs.
• Chain of command is involved: Only those who have an official need-to-know will/should be made aware of the report. This is important in order to maintain the safety of the victim and anyone else involved.
• Civilian/Military Protective Order: a Soldier has the option to receive a civilian and/or military protective order.
• Law Enforcement is involved: Depending on if you are active duty or guard/reserves will determine you law enforcement entity. Guard and Reserves are usually local law enforcement for where the crime occurred. Active Duty will most likely be CID.
• Expedited Transfer: A Soldier can elect for an expedited transfer. This is not processed through the same S1 channels and only those with a need-to-know will be involved in the process.

 

Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to Unrestricted Reporting is that the ONLY person/people investigating the crime will hold an investigation (e.g. law enforcement). There should NEVER be a 15-6 done to investigate sexual assault cases.

 

A warm reminder for survivors of sexual assault– just because the crime committed against you wasn’t substantiated, does NOT mean that it didn’t happen or that nobody believes you, it just means that unfortunately there was not enough evidence to prosecute. It’s hard to be dragged through the dirt that is the legal process only to be left hung out to dry.

 

Unrestricted reports must ensure protection under a reprisal/retaliation prevention plan for ANYONE involved in the report.

 

Is SHARP training effective?

 

This is a question that I’ve thought about a lot as a SARC/VA and I think the answer depends on who is giving the training.

 

Unfortunately, some victim advocates are command directed into the position and really see it as an additional duty. Meanwhile there are others who pour their hearts into the program.

 

If the person giving the training does not have any buy-in, then their training will fall short of the mark. Furthermore, there can be those who have the buy-in but completely drain their audience’s attention span with death-by-PowerPoint.

 

Task and Purpose talked about a new way to make SHARP training more effective by conducting scenario based SHARP training. This is the style of training that I have used because it delivers the shock factor. Most Soldiers don’t empathize with sexual assault victims until they are forced to reenact a small portion of what an incident could be.

 

One of the intents behind SHARP training is to deliver information about the SHARP program so that Soldiers know what their options are and where to go if they ever need help.

 

Another intent is to caution Soldiers on the consequences of inappropriate behavior. Unfortunately, it needs to be said more often than annually. Even worse is that most often that message of consequences will fall short for those who make the conscious choice to offend.

 

Does the SHARP program work?

 

I believe it can work if all the pieces function as they’re supposed to. Meaning that you have VAs/SARCs who believe in the program and uphold their roles. Having a chain of command that supports survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment is integral to the program’s efficacy as well.

 

In theory, the SHARP program has a good foundation. The shortfalls lie in the fact that we are all human. And unfortunately some humans care more than others about these matters.

 

As I previously mentioned, some VAs are command directed and would rather be doing anything else than attending to their clients. The same could be said about some of those in leadership positions overseeing the case.

 

In our state, we conduct an interview with potential candidates to see if there are a good fit for the position. There is NO point in assigned a person into that role if they are not going to uphold the standards of the SHARP program.

 

I’ve heard stories of very engaged command teams that hold offenders accountable. I’ve also heard stories about command teams that try to sweep things under the rug or handle incidents at the lowest level. Those are the most disheartening ones.

 

Now if you are in a leadership position and you’re dealing with a SHARP related issue, I’d strongly advise you to get cozy with legal. They are a tremendous asset when it comes to knowing your left and right limits. 

 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault in the Army and you feel like your VA and/or command aren’t doing their due diligence, you are allowed to switch VAs/SARCs and go to the next level in your chain of command. Your voice deserves to be heard.

 

I like to remind my clients that behind the rank on anyone’s chest is a person. Are you really going to let another person dictate your journey towards healing? It can be a tough road, but if that’s the only thing stopping our Soldiers from speaking up then something needs to change in the Army.

 

We must also extend some compassion to our leadership that are faced with difficult decisions that could impact the lives of their Soldiers. Anyone with a conscience knows it is hard to pass judgement even if you know that your decision is just.

 

I’ve seen the same guilt that comes with determining a punishment from victims as well. So if the actual victim of the crime in question feels guilty about coming up with their abuser’s suggested prison/jail sentence, then it’s easier to understand that a third party might have some feelings about carrying out the punishment.

 

However, that is their job as Commander. And Commanders and leadership alike should be more well-versed on their options and properly trained on their roles and responsibilities in response to SHARP issues. And no, the minimal training they get during CCC does not count as enough training in this department.

 

What should you do if you or someone you know are being sexually harassed or sexually assaulted in the Army?

 

Well, if you’ve gotten this far in the article then I’m sure you have already seen the above options for either route. However, I understand how scary it can be to come forward for fear that you story will be leaked without your approval.

 

I always strongly encourage those enduring sexual harassment in the workplace to speak to their SHARP/EOL rep, because you might just be surprised at how quickly matters can be squashed. But if you don’t want to go to your unit’s assigned SHARP/EOL, you don’t have to. Nobody can fault you for seeking help for something of this nature outside of your chain of command.

 

You can remain anonymous by submitting a memorandum for record detailing the events of the incident. Or even an anonymous phone call. Our state has an anonymous hotline, so please get with your SHARP/EOL rep to determine what system your organization uses.

 

The same thing goes for anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault. A lot of times we try to rationalize how something like that could have happened to us in the psychological courtroom of our own minds. And even though it takes place in our own head, we somehow end up prosecuting ourselves even though we were there when the crime was being committed against us.

 

Filing an official report (whether it’s restricted or unrestricted) enables your eligibility for benefits if/when you decide to leave the military. So it’s really important to keep a copy of your dd 2910 (that’s your reporting preference form). Once your SARC/VA enters the information on your dd 2910 into the database, they should give you the original back if it is entered on the same day. If not they scan you a copy and then shred the original. It will not be stored anywhere after it is entered into Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID).

 

If you still don’t want anything to do with the Army being involved, you can visit a rape crisis center and receive help through their resources. Most, if not all, offer free services.

 

The DoD Safe Helpline is a secure, anonymous, and confidential hotline: 877-995-5247. You can also download the DoD Safe Helpline app to gain access to resources 24/7.

 

Military One Source is also another avenue for counseling services to assist in your journey towards healing and recovery.

 

RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization that offers a free 24/7 hotline: 800-656-4673.

 

 

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Hopefully this gives you an insight on how the SHARP program is supposed to work. In my most recent experience, the SHARP program in our state has really been revamped and stacked with victim advocates who care and Commanders that are willing to take swift action.

 

It can be a learning curve and sometimes detrimental mistakes are made, but it really is a valuable program for Soldiers at its roots.

 

I wish that we didn’t have to worry about sexual assault and sexual harassment within our ranks, but unfortunately the statistics just aren’t in our favor. With that being said, sexual assault and sexual harassment aren’t organic to the military, so we can’t fault the organization entirely for human deficiency.

 

However, we need to find a better way to empower our Soldiers so that they have the courage to speak up when SHARP incidents occur. Once all Army leadership is willing to support survivors and hold offenders accountable for their actions, the SHARP program will become a truly effective tool for the Army.