ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Resource Center hosted an 80-hour SHARP Foundation Course at APG’s Mallette Training Facility, Aug. 16 – 27. The course was attended by both APG Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians, and was held in accordance with APG’s COVID-19 safety guidelines and regulations. Once the trainees have successfully completed the course, they will be able to provide full services as a credentialed Army collateral duty Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or Victim Advocate, depending on their respective rank or pay-grade, and interest.
CECOM Leaders and SHARP
Also in attendance for the first day of the course was U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Commanding General and APG Senior Commander, Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson II, as well as CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Kristie Brady. Edmonson used the opportunity to address the trainees about his experience as a leader in the Army and the SHARP program.
When asked why SHARP incidents are still occurring in an Army that has so many resources and training, Edmonson reminded the classroom that we all enter the Army with years of learned behaviors and habits.
“The simplest of tasks can be made really hard if you don’t have the right environment,” Edmonson said.
We can’t shift course overnight, he explained, but the Army has and can lead the way for long-term change in society.
“We’re in the people business,” he reminded the class. “The Army has always been a part of change… and will lead the way to change society!”
The Frontlines of Change
Helping to lead that change in the Army and society is Cordale Payne. An Army vet and former Equal Opportunity representative, Payne has been a SHARP trainer with U.S. Army Forces Command since 2004 and was one of the instructors for APG’s latest SHARP Foundation course.
During the course, Payne educated trainees on not only how to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct but the history of the SHARP program, its values and what it can offer organizations and leaders who implement the program into their culture.
“This is not an army or military thing, this is a culture thing,” Payne explained. “We’re not solely referring to just military. We’re talking about diverse organizations and diverse groups of people, like at APG.”
Payne praised APG and the Army for their efforts in combating sexual assault and harassment.
“The great thing the Army has done is recognize and put something (SHARP) in place to help and assist people, and to enhance the culture,” he said. “This is important and something that people can take outside the military once they separate from active duty. In uniform or out of uniform, we’re still people. People in the Army are people outside the Army.”
Payne continued on the importance of the individual, and what impact he strives to make as a leader within the program.
“I try and bring honesty, integrity and loyalty,” he said. “Honest to what we’re talking about. We don’t sugar coat. We talk about reality; we talk about the things that are actually going on out there; real life. Integrity and loyalty; not to the unit, but to what is right! Loyal to what is right. Right is right!”
Payne spoke about his personal motivations for becoming involved in the program.
“I do this now because of the passion I have for people and doing what’s right,” he declared. “Unfortunately, SHARP is a needed thing, but I volunteer not because I have daughters but because people are people and deserve to be treated like it.”
Staff Sgt. Alexia Murdoch, a non-commissioned officer at APG’s Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic, was one of the SHARP course trainees and newly certified VA upon graduation.
“I’m taking the course to be in a better position to help people,” she said. “Whether they were a victim themselves or know someone who’s a victim, or are just unsure. I want to be in a position to help.”
On what value a program like SHARP brings to APG and the Army, Staff Sgt. Murdoch continued on her personal motivations to assist and support those in need.
“SHARP is important because this is real, unfortunately,” she explained. “For me, becoming a victim advocate is just helping to be able to have a better leg to stand on for when I help other people. And then to be able to lead classes and training to try and prevent sexual assault and harassment from happening in the future.”
As for the future of the SHARP program, Payne offered his thoughts on the program’s outlook and what he wants society as a whole to recognize.
“I want people to know SHARP is not a SARC, VA or unit leader issue, it’s an everyone issue,” Payne stated. “SHARP is a tool to help organizations and Army leaders better deal with changing the culture for the better.
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