Former Aberdeen commander speaks about combating sexual assault

By Maranda FlynnSeptember 25, 2013

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Carlene Williams, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion and Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention victim advocate, expressed her appreciation for the Army SHARP program to Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Shadley. Shadley ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Shadley spoke with Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention victim advocates about his thoughts on how the Army can reduce sexual assault problems in the military, at Murr Community Center, Fort Huachuca, on... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

As part of Fort Huachuca's Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention campaign, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Huachuca, hosted a visit from retired Maj. Gen. Robert Shadley, to speak with victim advocates on "Leadership in Crisis," Tuesday, at Murr Community Center.

His presentation addressed his personal leadership challenges, as well as his thoughts on how to combat the sexual assault problems facing the military today.

"I think that no matter what we do, in your profession as victim advocates, we need to be consistent, and we need to be aggressive," said Shadley, as he provided recommendations and ideas to decrease the current sexual harassment and assault rates.

Shadley is a 35-year Army veteran who held many leadership positions, including the chief of ordnance and commanding general of the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground from 1995 to 1997.

During this time, an investigation led to drill sergeants and other instructors on military bases being disciplined for inappropriate behavior, such as abusing their powers to obtain sexual favors from trainees.

Shadley led the charge to identify the victims and perpetrators, and conducted an analysis to find the cause of this outbreak of misconduct.

"Young people make bad mistakes, and I think it's the job of Army leaders to show them the hard right, and to not take advantage of the easy wrong," said Shadley.

In his newly released book, "The GAMe -- Unraveling a Military Sex Scandal," Shadley walks readers through the process of unraveling the GAM, or Game ala Military, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., in 1996.

"Today, you all are the fighting systems of our Army and the Global War on Terrorism. We need to be as concerned about the operational readiness rate as we were 25 years ago … that is why everything that we do to keep our Soldiers safe is so key, Shadley said.

"We have set up this SHARP program, and we can call it a success when we are no longer on the front page of the Washington Times, but we are in this for the long haul."

Among the attendees was Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley, commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca.

During his visit, Shadley held four similar presentations that were open to the public on Monday and Tuesday, in the Greely Hall Auditorium and at Murr Community Center.