Due to the Restructure of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, SHARP professionals, Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates now serve outside the command reporting structure. SARCs and VAs report to the Lead SARC, who is supervised by the SHARP Program Manager at the Army Command/ Army Service Component Command level.
The Lead SARC also supervises military personnel who are selected to serve as Special Assignment SARCs and VAs on the installation and in the deployed setting while supporting operational forces during contingency operations. As the Army moves toward its mandate of building an installation-based SHARP model using primarily Civilian personnel, Soldiers will build the operational SHARP capability.
This shift in reporting is based on recommendations from the Secretary of Defense’s 90-day Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. This new independent reporting and professional oversight structure ensures that SHARP personnel provide professional, high-quality, victim-focused support and advocacy.
“The future SHARP structure will be a primarily civilian response workforce with support from Special Assignment Military SHARP professionals in remote and isolated locations, as well as in deployed theaters of operation,” said Stacey Hale, SHARP Plans and Operations Branch Chief.
Factors considered for the designation of remote and isolated locations for the SHARP Program are:
- Proximity to resources.
- Availability of victim services, such as legal, investigative, behavioral health and forensic medical services, through civilian or sister service programs.
- Hard-to-hire locations where the Army has historically struggled to find or retain qualified candidates.
- Locations with heightened security concerns or potential for conflict.
Soldiers selected to serve as Special Assignment SARCs will be in forward-operating bases or secured military locations that support tactical operations and strategic goals. Special Assignment VAs will be embedded in the operational brigades and will deploy to ensure response capability is available.
“Because the Special Assignment SARC is pre-positioned in that forward location whenever possible, they are aware of the infrastructure and services available in that area of operation,” Hale said.
“As Special Assignment VAs rotate or deploy to that area of responsibility, these Special Assignment SARCs can coach, teach and mentor these VAs who are trained and credentialed but may not be aware of the services available in that area.”
Soldiers interested in becoming a Special Assignment VA must complete a three-week Basic Course at the Army SHARP Academy. An additional three-week Intermediate Course is required if a Soldier wants to become a Special Assignment SARC.
“Working with command and community partners, to include our sister services, we are confident that the SHARP implementation plan will ensure a robust sexual assault response capability, even in remote, isolated and austere environments,” Hale said.
The restructure of the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, currently in phase 4, was mandated by Congress in 2022 through the National Defense Authorization Act. A staffing analysis is slated for completion by the end of FY 2025 to validate resource requirements. This will determine correct allocations and personnel placements and indicate adjustments that may be required prior to the elimination of collateral duty personnel, required by the Defense Department in FY 2027.
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