FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Nineteen Soldiers and civilians from across Fort Carson graduated an intense two-week Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program Foundation Course Dec. 8.
The graduates received their certificates during a ceremony and returned to their units as victim advocates.
The program's mission is to reduce, with an aim towards eliminating, sexual offenses within the Army through culture change, prevention, intervention, investigation, accountability, advocacy/response, assessment and training to sustain the all-volunteer force, according to the Army SHARP website.
The training included topics such as knowing a victim's rights, restricted and unrestricted reporting and providing a victim resources to seek medical and mental health assistance.
"I will be the change," said Capt. Marquarious Moore, 759th Military Police Battalion. "I see a lot on a daily basis (to include) people who could step forward but don't; I want to."
Changing the culture is the main theme of the training to help prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment by having personal courage to intervene in a potential situation, taking action to prevent sexual assault and harassment and to motivate others to keep their fellow Soldiers safe.
Moore said respecting each other is a key element to changing the culture to help end sexual assault and harassment before a situation becomes a reportable incident.
Armed with the knowledge and resources gained during the training, the graduates are charged with providing Soldiers assistance with sexual assault reporting, providing an environment of safe 24/7 response capability and supporting their respective command teams with prevention training and awareness efforts.
"I learned a lot from this course, the training was really intense," said Sgt. 1st Class Duy Q. Nguyen, Group Support Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). "I look forward to helping build an Army free of sexual assault and harassment."
Once the graduates return to their units, they have the potential to further their training by applying to become SHARP subject matter experts through a seven-week SHARP Career Course.
Contact the unit senior sexual assault response coordinator (SARC) to find out more about becoming a victim advocate.
For assistance from a certified SHARP victim advocate, call the Fort Carson SHARP office at 338-9654 or the Department of Defense Hotline at 877-995-5247.
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