FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Fort Drum leaders kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness Month on Tuesday at the Exchange to help better educate the community on all facets of the Sexual Harassment / Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program.
"The intent behind Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to bring a concentrated focus on sexual harassment and assault, but sexual assault specifically, within our ranks and within our community," said Sgt. 1st Class Regina Y. Swint, installation sexual assault response coordinator.
About a dozen Soldiers and civilians representing every brigade and headquarters of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) set up tables as part of an information fair aimed at raising awareness of all SHARP issues while also promoting prevention.
"We are facilitators," Swint said. "We are the first line of defense -- at the brigade levels and the division level. We want to make sure that the Soldiers know that we are here for them. They are in the forefronts of our minds. They are important to us."
Swint said the SHARP program on post has the strong support of Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander. She said he has emphasized that taking care of Soldiers and Families is a priority.
Swint noted that taking care of the Fort Drum community means ensuring awareness and increasing good mentoring among noncommissioned and commissioned officers.
"The resources available out there are (often) not used, because our Soldiers, Families and community members don't know they are there," she explained. "Also, junior and senior leaders need to be mentoring their Soldiers. SHARP should be just a part of our lifestyle in training Soldiers."
Swint said one way to increase Soldier awareness is incorporating SHARP into the sponsorship program, which has gained a renewed emphasis Armywide in recent months to ensure that newcomers at installations are guided along in their transition.
"We can prevent more than just respond," Swint said. "Right now, the program is knee-deep into responding to harassment or assault. But we want to create and facilitate a culture that is proactive and preventive.
"Sponsoring will help in more proactively preventing issues," she continued. "Unfortunately, statistics show that Soldiers are harassed and assaulted when they are first-termers, they are in their first 90 days of arriving at a new unit, they are age 18 to 24 and they live in the barracks. Sponsorship is a program that can keep Soldiers out of trouble. If they know their sponsor cares about them, they will make healthier decisions."
Clyde Wilson III, SHARP victim advocate with Army Community Service's Family Advocacy Program, takes both civilian and military complaints. He said all visitors to his office meet confidentially and behind closed doors while the process is explained to them.
"A large percentage of assaults begin with harassment," Wilson said. "It is important that we try to stop it at the lowest levels."
Sexual Assault Awareness Month events
Swint said the SHARP program will feature some of these healthy alternatives for single Soldiers throughout the month of April.
To kick things off, a Zumba class will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Monti Physical Fitness Center and a self defense class will meet immediately afterwards from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Atkins Functional Fitness Facility across the parking lot.
Swint said depending on participation, additional classes will be scheduled throughout the month.
Three more Sexual Assault Awareness fairs are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 11, 19 and 24 at the Exchange. In addition, the commanding general will hear the concerns and receive climate assessments from female Soldiers of all ranks during private focus groups scheduled on post throughout the month.
Swint said future iterations will include focus groups with male Soldiers as well.
"We do have a male population of Soldiers who are survivors of sexual assault," she said. "It's not only a female issue. Unfortunately, males are not only assaulted by other males, they are also assaulted by females. That doesn't get a lot of attention. So we need to raise awareness of gender-neutral assault, too."
In addition, a two-day Sexual Assault Response Team Seminar will take place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Commons. In its second year, the seminar consists of a working-group environment of various subject-matter experts and advocates within and outside of Fort Drum sharing information on the proper handling of SHARP processes.
To cap off the month of activities, SHARP facilitators will hold a "Walk in Their Shoes" event April 25 to show support for all survivors of sexual assault. The walk is open to all members of the Fort Drum community. It kicks off at 6:50 a.m. from the North Riva Ridge Chapel parking lot.
"We don't live in a culture where we teach Soldiers not to rape, not to assault and not to harass," Swint said. "We are trying to turn that around. Instead of being the culture that tells potential (victims), 'Don't get raped; don't get harassed,' we have to be a part of a front that says, 'Don't behave like this. You don't want to be the assaulter.'
"Consent is so muddy of an issue in society," she continued. "We want to educate our Soldiers on this. Many have little to no clue about consent.
"We need to inform potential perpetrators -- perpetrators who are not only ignorant but also think it is 'OK,'" Swint added. "We want our Soldiers to know that no matter what, not only does 'no' mean 'no,' but any form of resistance means 'no.' Inebriation means 'no.' Even hesitation means 'no.'"
For more information, or to learn more about scheduled events, contact the 10th Mountain Division (LI) SHARP office at 774-2728.
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