PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Army space Soldiers from the 1st Space Brigade stood-down June 20 for Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) training at the Peterson Base theater.
Their mission is to respond immediately to and defeat sexual harassment and the crime of sexual assault. This action enables military readiness, protects the force, and provides a safe/healthy environment.
Soldiers from the brigade received opening remarks from executive officer Lt. Col. Jennifer L. Adams-Buckhouse and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas L. Eagan.
Quoting from recently published Army statistics on sexual assault, Adams-Buckhouse said, "From fiscal year 2006 to 2011, the Army had 2,683 rape offenses committed by 2,273 offenders. You sit there and think to yourself, there is a four hundred number gap. That means that there are repeat offenders. That is astonishing and mind numbing."
Eagan during his remarks stressed the importance of the day's subject matter by saying, "Folks, I guarantee I am going to be engaged in this. I said 22 months ago when I first came to this assignment 'blue-on-blue' is non-negotiable. Leaders, if you are not dealing with this, then you have no place in this command."
In a video message from the 1st Space Brigade commander, Col. James R. Meisinger said, "SHARP incidents are a violation of Army values, they are a violation of our oath to the Constitution, and they are a psychological form of fratricide. Perpetrators absolutely will not be tolerated. Victims are going to be protected, heard, and they are going to be assumed credible."
Meisinger stressed the point that the victims are going to be assumed credible from the get go.
"They are going to be fully supported throughout the whole process. If there is going to be any inconvenience it is not going to be to the victim, it is going to be to the perpetrator," he said.
Members of the brigade then viewed the 2012 documentary on sexual assault in the U.S. military entitled "The Invisible War."
Afterwards Soldiers, along with Department of Army civilians in the brigade, broke into small groups where assigned leaders held discussions covering talking points dealing with: I.A.M. STRONG Campaign; Army Values; individual responsibility maintaining climate of dignity/respect; and consequences for sexually based offenses.
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