Sexual Harassment Attack Prevention or (Sharp)

Since the implementation of the Army’s Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention program or (SHARP) the Army has strived to uphold its mission statement: “Enhance Army readiness through the prevention of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and associated retaliatory behaviors while providing comprehensive response capabilities” Within the Army we are an ever evolving machine, this machine like all others must be overhauled or updated from time to time to keep them current. In this session we will discuss two changes that could improve the organizations SHARP program. The first change to improve the program would be to put SHARP training aside from other training events and make it more detailed by adding more time to allow for role playing and gender specific training. The second way to improve the SHARP program is to add a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or (SANE) at each Brigade.

The first change we will talk about in order to improve the SHARP program would be to adjust the organizations training schedules to reflect specific time that only speaks about SHARP. We have all been subject to “death by PowerPoint” at some point and time in our career. Picture this: it is your company’s annual briefing day, the current unit I am attached to usually completes theirs in December before the yearly Christmas party. Everyone is packed in a small room that is either too hot or too cold and they proceed to show annual briefings until you cannot hold your eyes open. By the time it gets to the SHARP briefing they could be giving away a Ferrari and half of the class would be sitting there with the hundred yard stare thinking “will it all be over soon, just get that roster over here so I can sign it and get it done for the year”. If organizations would change their training schedules to hold SHARP training on a day where that is the only training they had, I feel that Soldiers would pay more attention to the content of the class and in turn get more knowledge of how the SHARP program operates.

There is nothing worse than a victim notifying you of an incident and not realizing the difference between a restricted and non-restricted report (SAPR, n.d.) after they failed to pay attention in class because they were bored or didn’t interact or because they felt uncomfortable interacting about the subject with people of the same gender. The service member didn’t know or understand the regulation and because of this and how they made the notification the whole chain of command had to be notified about the incident. When they notified you they only wanted counseling and to talk to someone about an experience that they had.

Gender specific training could be beneficial in such a way that people tend to open up communicate and become more engaged with people of their own gender. Linda L. Carli has confirmed in a statement that she made after a study dated in 1989, “Research has demonstrated that gender does indeed have an effect on group interaction”. “Role playing may be easier as well as the engagement of a question and answer session during the course.

The second change that could be beneficial is to add a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or (SANE) to each brigade sized element. SANE nurses by definition are “registered nurses who have completed specialized education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of the patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse”. (International Association of Forensic Nurses, n.d.) SANE nurses are required to have the following certifications they must be: a registered nurse, they should have at least two years’ experience in critical patient assessment such as emergency, critical care, or maternal care (International Association of Forensic Nurses, n.d.).The SANE would work hand in hand with the SARC to help victims understand the reporting process. These nurses could also aid in the reporting process by giving a firsthand account to Army investigators should there be a need for an investigation, they could also process the victim for civilian authorities should there be a need for a criminal case against an accused individual. SANE nurses also have the ability to testify in court about the patient’s case in the event of a criminal trial.

In conclusion we have learned the mission statement of the Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention (SHARP). We have discussed two ways to improve the SHARP program, number one by changing to time specific training and separated gender training. Number two we have discussed the addition of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at each Brigade level. We have discussed the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners scope of work and how they could be used to help the organization and more importantly the victim in the event of a sexual assault. I think that we would all agree that sexual harassment and sexual assault has no place in our current work environment. Sexual assault and harassment are detrimental to the organization and hinders the accomplishment of our missions at home and abroad, during wartime and during peacetime. I am certain that doing our part to educate ourselves and those within our command to combat sexual assaults and sexual harassment will increase combat readiness within our ranks. I am sure everyone will agree that any means used to accomplish higher learning on this subject is defiantly a step in the right direction.

References

1. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2020, from International Association of Forensic Nurses: https://www.forensicnurses.org/page/aboutSANE
2. Carli, L. L. (1989). Gender Differences in Interaction Style and Influence. Retrieved from Communication Cache: http://www.communicationcache.com/uploads/1/0/8/8/10887248/gender_differences_in_interaction_style_and_influence.pdf
3. SAPR, U. D. (n.d.). Retrieved from United States Departement of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response: https://sapr.mil/restricted-reporting
4. US Department of Defense. (n.d.). U.S. ARMY SHARP. Retrieved JUNE 20, 2020, from https://www.sexualassault.army.mil/iam_mission.aspx

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