Learning how to recognize sexual harassment or sexual assault is often uncomfortable for employees attending mandatory annual training. But the training is presented that way to get your attention and bring awareness to a very serious issue in the Army.
June 9-12, Huntsville Center employees received the required annual face-to-face Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention or SHARP refresher training.
James Braxton, director, Office of Diversity and Leadership at Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, came to the Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville to provide information about sexual assault and sexual harassment and educate center employees on how to prevent sexual violence. Angela Morton, chief of the center's Equal Employment Opportunity Office, and Stephanie Caldwell, equal employment specialist, were also available to answer questions and provide information.
Braxton said the overarching goal for the Sexual Harassment/Assault Prevention and Response Program is to reduce the stigma of reporting and increase prevention, investigation and prosecution capabilities while ensuring protection of sexual assault survivors from retaliation and threats. It is the Army's policy to use training, education and awareness to prevent sexual harassment/assault; promote sensitive handling of victims; offer victim assistance and counseling; and provide timely and thorough investigation of all reported incidents.
"I realize this is not a favorite subject for everyone, and it's a difficult task to administer the training. However, it's a very important subject that Army has put as one of its top 10 priorities," Braxton said. "This training is about changing the culture and the behavior within the federal government. I really need to know how you feel about this subject and how we interact. What is harassment to you? The way someone looks at you, talks to you, etc. It can also be the person sitting near you hears and spreads to others. Sexual assault is a serious crime that has no place in the Army, and will not be condoned or tolerated."
"Raising awareness on SHARP is a top priority for officials at all levels -- from the president on down the chain of command. Zero tolerance. Acts of sexual harassment or sexual assault will not be tolerated within the Army, whether Soldier or civilian," Braxton said.
Braxton said sometimes it's a challenge to equate training built for Soldiers and the civilian workforce to the corps workforce. That's why his office is working extra hard to relate the program to them and get buy-in. The SHARP program's mission is to reduce, with an aim toward eliminating, sexual offenses within the Army. SHARP training is focused on awareness and prevention.
Braxton is a 34-year retired Army Reserve commissioned officer who has spent more than a decade of his federal service working at the headquarters Office of Diversity and Leadership Office addressing equal employment opportunity issues.
Nicole Boone, Small Business Office small business specialist, admits the material conveyed in SHARP training is uncomfortable. However, being a former noncommissioned officer in the Marines, she said she understands it's pertinent to the training.
"This was one of the best experiences I've ever had with receiving this training," Boone said. "I liked the platform and how the presenter didn't rely on slides and made it very interactive. He engaged us and got feedback from us throughout the training so he definitely got his point across. It was also good to hear about third party issues and how someone else can report an offense. We're mindful about our own actions but don't often think about how others perceive what we do. Understanding this dynamic and how it can impact our organization is very important. Lastly, he shared his own personal experiences. This was a plus for me."
Braxton also stressed the importance of victims seeking help from the appropriate sources. Whether in a large or small organization, sometimes privacy may become an issue. This is why victims who may feel uncomfortable reporting an incident through various Huntsville Center channels can seek help from other non-military resources. He stressed the importance that an individual seek help from a resource they feel comfortable with.
"So we want to make every resource possible available to victims," Braxton said. "We are working to support survivors and prevent sexual violence. One of the biggest mistakes many organizations make is they move the person who has been harassed or assaulted and make things worse. We have to stop victimizing the victim."
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