Essay Sample about Army Sharp

The purpose of this essay  is to disseminate the reasons why sexual harassment and assault cases remain high despite the rigorous mandatory training and education requirements. SHARP cases still plague our Army, hinders our forces, and need to be corrected starting within our teams. We cannot be ready to deploy, engage, and destroy our foreign enemies when domestically our Soldiers attack their own. Army Regulation 600-20 Ch.7-7 describes sexual harassment as “conduct that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and deliberate or repeated offensive comments or gestures of a sexual nature”. AR 600-20 Ch. 7-9 describes sexual assault as “intentional sexual contact characterized by use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent.” Examples included “rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, or attempts to commit these acts”. 

“While the research shows that junior enlisted troops have respect for their senior leaders, those younger troops say it is their the mid-level enlisted leaders who are sometimes failing to set the tone and police unacceptable behavior.” (Myers, 20) All Soldiers have a duty to verbally correct inappropriate and crude behaviors. However, leaders are charged with good order and discipline within the organization. Leaders must correct these behaviors as early and often as possible to maintain the Army’s professional reputation. Allowing inappropriate behavior sets the wrong standard. With junior leaders stepping into higher roles and junior enlisted following suit, the years of SHARP trainings promote these leaders to intervene and stop unacceptable behavior. Leaders who are more inclined to correct inappropriate behavior will influence subordinates to do the same.

“Alcohol plays a major role in many military sexual assaults, as does the close quarters. For some, that’s just an accepted part of the culture.” (Myers, 20)  Approximately 44% of sexual assault cases involved alcohol consumed by the offender, victim, or both. (R3) As leaders, we cannot stop Soldiers from drinking. We can offer insight and instruct proper behavior and clear, concise expectations making a world of difference.

SHARP trainings are looked at, as “one is that the check-the-block PowerPoint presentations just don’t resonate, and another is that they focus too much on male perpetrators and female victims.” states a Service Member in Myers’ article. Face-to-face trainings are instructor lead and leave little to no participation from the group. These long trainings leave the participating members unfocused, with little interest and no retention of the material. The SHARP program has evolved, realizing that men are just as affected as women. SHARP trainings are now conducted as a peer-to-peer discussion rather than force-fed lectures, thus involving the Soldiers to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. 

Despite the trainings, we cannot control the sale or consumption of alcohol, timid leaders, or compliance of a Soldier to maintain the Army Values. A good leader inspires seniors, peers, and subordinates alike, encouraging Soldiers to stand against the sexual misconduct that plagues our formation. Future leaders must set the example, correcting peers to uphold the standard.  Chief Warrant Officer 3 Edward Wilson stated, “I’m sexual harassment and assault – If you can’t win the war against me, you’ll never be able to defeat your country’s enemy.” (R4)