Army SHARP Essays

The purpose of this essay is to further educate soldiers on the importance of SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention). Sexual harassment can come in many forms two, for example, ‘quid pro quo’ also known as ‘this for that’ and ‘hostile environment.’ Two of these are very serious, A soldier has many options when it comes to what he/she should do if sexual assault or harassment occurs and what prevention measures to take. This is why SHARP is so important to the Army.

To go more in-depth about ‘quid and pro’, which is a form of sexual harassment where one threatens the risk of another’s career if a sexual favor or action is not returned. For example, a soldier, of higher rank could tell a soldier, of lower rank, they will be promoted if a sexual favor is done for them and if not, the soldier could threaten them with discipline. Another type of sexual harassment is called a ‘hostile environment.’ This is when a soldier or civilian is getting unwanted and unsolicited comments towards them. This can include explicit comments on one’s body parts and suggested inappropriate pictures. There can be many different types of sexual harassment and assault, yet all of them should be taken very seriously. Any form can cause long-term mental and physical problems for the victim.

Many actions can be taken if you have had to deal with sexual assault or harassment, SHARP gives you a list of actions that can be taken to help you deal with this trauma. One route that could be taken is to talk with the harasser, one on one. Tell them it is not acceptable, and try to resolve it that way. If you feel too scared or embarrassed to talk to your harasser, you can always send them a letter, email, or any form of a non-direct message. If the harassment or assault is getting out of hand or you are too uncomfortable with handling the situation on your own, you can always report the assault or harassment to your supervisor or anyone in your chain of command to help get out of this uncomfortable situation. Someone is always there to help you and will be willing to help you.

In conclusion, There are many ways to prevent sexual assault and harassment, but the first step comes with educating soldiers and civilians on the subject. This is where SHARP comes into play, and why SHARP is so important. Many know about sexual assault and harassment before joining the Army, but not everyone is educated on the many forms it comes in, or how you can handle the situation if you are ever subjected to it. Whether it is verbal, non-verbal, or physical. SHARP helps by preventing with education, helping to understand when you are being sexually assaulted or harassed, and ways to help deal with it.