The U.S. Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program is the Army’s integrated, proactive effort to end sexual harassment and sexual assault within our ranks. Sexual harassment and sexual assault have no place in the Armed Forces. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment or sexual assault, you have a voice, you have rights, and we’re here to help.

The U.S. Army SHARP Program also:

  • Permeates the Army's structure from the Pentagon down to the individual Soldier level.
  • Has full-time staff at the brigade level and higher.
  • Promotes cultural change across the Army, with a vision toward a culture of discipline and respect in which Soldiers intervene in sexual harassment and sexual assault to protect one another.
  • Includes a comprehensive effort to educate leaders and Soldiers about sexual harassment and sexual assault.
  • Employs a concrete training program that teaches Soldiers to be alert to serial offender tactics, to intervene to stop incidents and disrupt offenders, and where and how to seek help.
  • Provides commanders with the essential resources, education, and training they need to succeed in bringing an end to sexual harassment and sexual assault in the Armed Forces.

We have credentialed Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Victim Advocates (VAs) available 24/7 to help with reporting, and support prevention, training, and awareness efforts.

our insider threat

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment are incompatible with the Army Values and the Warrior Ethos

The Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, known as SHARP, exists so the Army can prevent sexual harassment and sexual assaults before they occur. Our goal is to eliminate sexual assaults and sexual harassment by creating a climate that respects the dignity of every member of the Army family. Additionally, we strive to:

  • Reduce the stigma of reporting
  • Protect the victim
  • Increase prevention, investigation, prosecution and victim care capabilities
  • Increase training and resources
  • Refine and sustain response capability

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are inconsistent with Army Values and will not be tolerated. One assault is one too many. We must foster a climate of trust that respects and protects our Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members. We are aggressively implementing and expanding the Army's comprehensive Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program. SHARP is a commander's program. We are committed to ensuring engaged leadership at all levels to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Your options

First, what classifies sexual harassment?

Definition of sexual harassment:

Sexual harassment is conduct that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and deliberate or repeated offensive comments or gestures of a sexual nature. It is so severe or pervasive that a reasonable person would perceive, and the victim does perceive, the environment as hostile or offensive.

Sexual assault and sexual harassment are not the same, although they are related to each other.

Two types of sexual harassment:

Quid pro quo
Refers to conditions placed on a person’s career or terms of employment in return for sexual favors.

Hostile environment
Soldiers, Civilians or Family members are subjected to offensive, unwanted, and unsolicited comments, or behaviors of a sexual nature. If these behaviors unreasonably interfere with an individual's performance, regardless of whether the subject/offender and the complainant are in the same workplace, then the environment is classified as "hostile."

What can I do?

In the event of sexual harassment:

In order to stop sexual harassment, the aggrieved is encouraged to make an informal sexual harassment complaint. Report the inappropriate behavior to your chain of command through your SHARP representative.

If you are a civilian, report the behavior immediately to your supervisor, or to the Equal Employment Opportunity office.

If the behavior persists, file a formal sexual harassment complaint through your brigade SHARP representative. 

If you are a civilian, report the incident to your Equal Employment Opportunity office.

In the event of sexual assault:

1. Get to a safe place. If you are in need of urgent medical attention, call 046-407-2911. If you are not injured, you still need medical assistance to protect your health. Please contact the BG Sams Army Health Clinic at (DSN) 315-263-4128 or (COMM) 046-407-4128.

2. Contact your local SHARP representative, or call the Sexual Assault 24/7 Hotline at 090-9395-8909.

3. To protect evidence, do not shower, brush your teeth, put on make up, eat, or drink, or change clothes until advised to do so. 

Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact law enforcement.

Restricted sexual assault report:

We value your privacy. Restricted reporting offers Soldiers and Family members, over the age of 18, the option to report a sexual assault without having to notify law enforcement and protecting the identity of the victim.

This option is only available if you report the incident to your victim advocate, medical care facility, or sexual assault response coordinator (SARC).

Restricted sexual assault report:

Access to medical, advocacy, legal and counseling services

Receive a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE)

Control the release of personal information

Can change to Unrestricted Report at any time

Special Victims' Counsel

CATCH Program (Catch a repeat offender)

Unrestricted sexual assault report:

Unrestricted Reporting is the military’s preferred reporting method because it provides the widest latitude to help and protect victims of sexual assault. Through the unrestricted option, details of the incident are kept confidential and are only disclosed on a need-to-know basis. An unrestricted report triggers an investigation so that offenders may be held accountable and the safety of the victim is ensured.

Unrestricted Report Services: 

Access to medical, advocacy, legal and counseling services

Receive a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE)

Alleged offender held accountable

Command support

Can receive protective orders: Military Protective Order (on installation) and Civilian Protective Order (off installation)

Expedited transfer

Special Victims' Counsel

Services for Independent of either reporting options: 

Medical care

Counseling 

Pastoral care upon request

Sexual assault forensic examination

Need Help Now

Honshu SHARP 24/7 Hotline 090-9395-8909

SHARP Office
263-4229 or 262-5506

DSN: (315) 263-4229 or 262-5506

From U.S.: 011-81-46-407-5506 or 4229

DoD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support for the Community:
(877) 995-5247

Veteran's Crisis Line:
1-800-273-8255

Resources

Website Resources

www.nsvrc.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center

www.rainn.org
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN)

www.militaryonesource.mil
Military OneSource

www.sapr.mil
DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

https://www.armyresilience.army.mil                                                                                                                                              Army Resilience Directorate 

www.safehelpline.org
The Department of Defense Sexual Assault Help Line. Provides anonymous help online, by phone or by text.

www.armyonesource.com
ArmyOne Source serves American troops and their Families; 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year; people can call in and speak to a consultant or go online and access information or email a consultant. 1-800-464-8107

https://www.nationalguard.mil/leadership/joint-staff/J-1/sapr/
National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response website.

military sexual trauma (mst) | veterans affairs (va.gov)
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) website.