Why do SHARP cases continue to happen?

CPL Beas, Victor M

Roster #161
 SHARP

This paper will explore the reasons why sexual harassment and assault continue to

occur in the Army, regardless of the amount of training and education that takes place.

During fiscal year 2018 there were 2536 unrestricted reports and 741 restricted reports

(Department of the Army, 2018), as opposed to fiscal year 2016 showing 1975

unrestricted reports 620 restricted reports (Department of the Army, 2016). This shows

approximately a 26% increase within a two year span. The SHARP program is still

evolving and requires further revision and assessment.

Sexual assault occurs when a climate of sexual harassment is allowed to

escalate. The chances of escalation to sexual assault “were higher in units where the

prevalence of sexual harassment or gender discrimination, or level of workplace

hostility, were [sic] higher” (Department of Defense, 2018). This would sensibly call for a

reduction in climates that facilitate that level of behavior.

The current approach has not reduced the risk of sexual assault and harassment;

this is evidenced by the figures presented previously. It appears to be a retroactive

approach, one that punishes soldiers after they have committed the violation as

opposed to giving the soldier the opportunity to not commit in the first place. The

surveys conducted by the Department of Defense reflect this claim with the total

published numbers of reported incidents.

Sergeants can contribute to the SHARP program by raising awareness with their

soldiers and maintaining an open line of communication with them. It is not necessary to

micromanage soldiers, but to encourage open communication to enable leadership to

redirect any potential future occurrences into positive actions. The culture will change to
one of reacting to a situation, to one of being proactive and preventing occurrences.

Michelle Fonseca, the head of Ft. Benning’s Maneuver Center of Excellence SHARP

program states that “now, DOD is focusing on prevention” (Army News Service) as

opposed to focusing on reacting to cases after they have already occurred. SHARP PIF

Monique Ferrell makes the case that soldiers must be given the means to understand to

do the right thing. This is instead of focusing solely on what a soldier shouldn’t do and

will provide the soldiers with the tools to recognize when a soldier requires intervention.

The SHARP program is not without issues. To end sexual harassment in the

military the military needs to revise, reassess, and execute its current programs.

Executing a plan that targets prevention in lieu of response will be valuable in reducing

the SHARP cases across the army and avert the loss of combat power by keeping

soldiers mission capable within their units. This will generate a stronger and more

cohesive force.
 References

Army News Service. (2018, July 5). SHARP professionals focus on prevention,
intervention at 2018 conference. Retrieved from Army.mil:
https://www.army.mil/article/208167/sharp_professionals_focus_on_prevention_i
ntervention_at_2018_conference
Army News Service. (2019, September 4). With two-day SHARP Forum, Fort Benning
eyes next steps in curbing sexual assault Retrieved from Army.mil:

https://www.army.mil/article/226687/with_two_day_sharp_forum_fort_benning_e
yes_next_steps_in_curbing_sexual_assault
Department of Defense. (2018). Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual
Assault in the Military.
Department of the Army. (2016). Annual Report on Sexual Assault. Department of the
Army.
Department of the Army. (2018). Annual Report on Sexual Assault. Department of the
Army.