WIESBADEN, Germany -- Soldiers, civilians and Family members increased their knowledge about how to identify and end sexual harassment and assault during the fourth annual SHARP Amazing Race April 19, 2018 at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden.

Twenty-six teams consisting of five members each completed challenges in staggered heats at various locations around Clay Kaserne, staffed by more than 50 volunteers. Jogging from station to station, team members tested their knowledge about sexual assault and prevention.

Before the race, Garrison Commander Col. Todd J. Fish reminded participants of the importance of the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention program.

"All of you being here today is a testament that you are willing to step forward and act and prevent, and I applaud all of you for that," he said.

Participants were able to get their daily physical training in and at the same time fulfill their required annual face-to-face SHARP training.

The challenges in the race required participants to use the foundational data they've learned in their SHARP training, said Rachel Phillips, sexual assault response coordinator for the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade.

"It forces people to use what they've learned in their face-to-face training and apply it," she said.

Participants learned more about the role of alcohol in sexual assault, the steps in a sexual harassment report and the importance of bystander intervention with varied stations from previous years. "We always want to have different education, so it's not the same every year," Phillips said. "Things are constantly changing, so we have to change with that--give the correct information and the correct data."

Volunteers from ACS and the 522nd Battalion hosted a station where teams had to answer questions about sexual assault as it relates to SHARP and the Family Advocacy Program, two programs that work hand in hand and have a lot of overlap. If people are married, live together or have a child together, that falls under FAP. Whereas sexual assault between strangers, colleagues, friends or others not living together falls under SHARP.

Sgt. Loudie Desvallons said the biggest thing her team learned during the race was the roles of SHARP and FAP and how to report. Representatives from both organizations are ready to help and can connect anyone who contacts them with the right resources.

"Any person who experiences sexual assault can get help, whether it's FAP or SHARP," said Bill Mottley, Wiesbaden SHARP program manager. "When in doubt, they can call our 24/7 hotline and we can point them in the right direction."

The 1-214th and the Air Force hosted a bystander intervention station in which participants had to decide when to intervene in scenarios that were acted out.

The Army Substance Abuse Program provided small pedal cars that racers had to navigate around obstacles while wearing drunk goggles. This station is important because alcohol plays a big role in sexual assault, Phillips said.

"In the majority of sexual assaults that involve a drug, that drug is alcohol," she said. "And the majority of sexual assaults that are reported here involve some type of alcohol."

Participants were asked to step into someone else's shoes -- literally--at the 2nd Signal Brigade-hosted station where team members had to put on women's high-heeled shoes and walk around a course. Participants also had to lead a blindfolded team member through the course and perform physical activities while learning about sexual assault awareness and prevention.

The Criminal Investigative Command held a surprise station at the end where participants had to do squats and run laps.

Sgt. Stephen Seymour, a first-time participant, said his team learned new information from the question and answer challenge at the FAP station.

"We had two E-5's, two E-7s and an E-4, and the E-4 was the only one that got them right, so that shows that NCOs can continue to learn even past the annual training," he said.

Many teams were in it to win it, while his team walked the course and just enjoyed the chance to participate. "We had fun with it," Seymour said. "I'll remember the training a lot more than I would have if it was just an online one."

All new Soldiers and civilians get SHARP face-to-face training during inprocessing and can fulfill their annual requirement for the face-to-face every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. in Bldg. 1023W (Welcome Center). No appointment is needed for individual students.

REPORT IT
24/7 Sharp hotline: 0162-296-6741
Go to www.safehelpline.org to chat or text with a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or a Victim Advocate. Participation is anonymous.