PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The Presidio of Monterey began recently installing Sexual Assault/Harassment Prevention hotlines in service member barracks common rooms and recreation facilities throughout the base.
"The purpose of the hotline is to ensure people have access to reach out for help," said Sgt. 1st Class Saffron Fletcher, Presidio Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention coordinator. "It promotes awareness and prevention."
TRADOC mandated that SHARP hotlines be installed in the common areas for accessibility and privacy.
The 24-hour hotline phone includes routing options that connect to a sexual assault response coordinator, a unit victim advocate or an on-call chaplain. The phone also allows service members to use the line to make routine medical appointments, which eliminates the stigma of use.
Fletcher said the hotlines also serve as a way to protect service member confidentiality and that the installation of the phones is yet another step toward commitment to the SHARP program and Presidio service members.
"It shows that they have access to report and call someone that they can feel comfortable with." Fletcher said. "We want them to be confident that we are committed to prevention of sexual assault and harassment."
Jeffrey DeMayo, Telecommunication Manager at the POM Network Enterprise Center said the initiative is funded locally through TRADOC funds and will be implemented across the Presidio as soon as possible.
"We're looking to install phones in 22 buildings with a minimum of two per building, and roughly 50 lines that are going to be installed," DeMayo said. "We're starting with the older buildings and moving on to the newer ones as fast as we can. We've completed installation of 12 buildings to date."
"We're making them as easy to locate as possible, even if we have to move things around in the common rooms. Service members, DOD civilians and family members can utilize the hotlines whenever and wherever they find them." said DeMayo.
Fletcher said the Presidio of Monterey and its largest tenant, the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, remains committed to educating service members and leaders about sexual assault and harassment prevention, as well as improving victim advocate training and finding effective alternatives to ensure that every service member is protected.
The Presidio SHARP Helpline is 831-242-7427 (242-SHARP) and is available 24/7.
The number is manned around the clock by a DOD Sexual Assault Advocate Assistant or Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Victim Advocate.
The DOD Safe Helpline available 24/7, worldwide, is 877-995-5247.
"In a service members time of crisis and need we want there be no barriers to reporting and getting help." said Presidio of Monterey Installation Victim Advocate Sgt. 1st Class Tanner Swanson.
"If the need should arise for speedy medical care and confidential advocacy services, we want there to be as many direct lines open as possible to connect them with a certified victim advocate." said Swanson. "Even in an age where almost everyone has a smartphone there is no guarantee that someone in need of help will have our number in their phone contact list, and with the installation of these phones we fill that gap."
For more information about the Presidio of Monterey Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program visit: www.monterey.army.mil/Equal_Opportunity/sexual_assault.html
WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?
Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature between the same or opposite genders when submission to, or rejection of, such conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, work performance, or creates a hostile or intimidating work environment.
The U.S. Army defines sexual assault as intentional sexual contact characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority, or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Examples include rape, nonconsensual sodomy (oral or anal sex), inappropriate sexual fondling or attempts to commits these acts.
Related Links:
Presidio of Monterey on Twitter
Presidio of Monterey on Facebook
Social Sharing