Sexual Assault and Harassment in the United States Army Essay Example

đź“ŚCategory: Government, Military, Social Issues, Violence
đź“ŚWords: 635
đź“ŚPages: 3
đź“ŚPublished: 15 February 2022

The purpose of this essay is to determine why sexual assault and harassment continue to occur within the ranks of the United States Army despite continued efforts to eradicate such incidents. Soldiers who reject the notion that they are directly affected by cases of sexual violence must look to their left and right. Even if you are not a victim or witness of such crimes, others within your ranks exist who have indeed been affected. The effects of sexual violence are pervasive and spread like a virus, leaving a string of casualties in its wake. The resulting scars are not always visible. Some wounds are emotional or psychological, hidden deep within someone. As members of a world-class, elite fighting force, it is our responsibility to protect our own. We must defend each other from enemies foreign and, yes, even domestic. That means that the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) Program must be taken seriously. This is to ensure the vitality, strength, and readiness of our military. If soldiers are expected to fight and win as a team then they must care for one another. Why, then, do SHARP-related cases persist and continue to inflict damage upon our Army? This short essay will present several possible rationales for this persisting problem and potential solutions.

First, the general concept of SHARP's purpose is possibly misunderstood. According to the SHARP Guidebook, SHARP "exists so that the Army can prevent incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault before they occur." (Army SHARP Guidebook, Version 1.1, Chapter 1) Undoubtedly, it is noble to strive for the absolute prevention of such behaviors. Acts of sexual violence are antithetical to the Army values and hurt our fighting force. Yet, this abbreviated mission statement neglects to address the efforts made for victims of cases that were not prevented. Furthermore, the SHARP Guidebook states that, as a result of adherence to the SHARP Program, "every Army team member will be treated with dignity and respect at all times and in all circumstances." (Army SHARP Guidebook) This fails to address the educational efforts that must be made. Soldiers must be taught and trained to abide by what is right and wrong regarding interpersonal behavior and conduct.

Soldiers must have a solid grasp of the SHARP Program's purpose. Without that understanding, all soldiers cannot be expected to follow its guidelines appropriately. Many soldiers believe that the SHARP Program is solely for victim advocacy. Some do not recognize that SHARP is a prevention program at heart. The carelessness of jokingly throwing around "SHARP" in conversation amongst friends has diminished the intended potency of the program. SHARP aims to educate, train, prevent, and advocate not to scare.

Lastly, the SHARP stigma remains but it too can be fought.  According to The New York Times, "victims [of sexual harassment or assault] are often punished for reporting what happened." (The New York Times Magazine; ‘A Poison in the System’: The Epidemic of Military Sexual Assault) Based on a 2018 survey, "thirty-eight percent of servicewomen who reported their assaults experienced professional retaliation afterward." (The New York Times Magazine) Servicemembers, both male and female, should be encouraged to address uncomfortable situations and incidents. Victims should be advocated for and supported by their entire Chain of Command. The stigma around complaining about SHARP-related incidents must cease. No one should be made to feel as though they are wrong for reporting SHARP incidents. SHARP aims to empower soldiers to advocate for one another. As peer advocates, Soldiers must dutifully follow reporting guidelines and practices.

Our efforts to eradicate cases of sexual harassment and assault are not enough. We, as an Army, must continue to make a concerted effort to combat sexual violence. The U.S. Army website states that victims of sexual violence "have a voice". (Army.mil) It stands to reason that a chorus of voices is louder than only one. All American Soldiers are called to join in the chorus of voices for advocacy. Together we can diminish cases of sexual harassment and assault. Together we can create one cohesive unit of mutually respected soldiers. That is the Army I agreed to join and the Army our nation deserves.

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