SHARP training focuses on Mid-Level Leaders

CAMP HENRY, Korea — Leaders from 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command participated in a two-day Mid-Level Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Ambassador training event on Camp Walker, Dec. 14-15.

“Although the SHARP Ambassador program has been around for a while now, we have only recently begun focusing on mid-level leaders in the grades of E-6 thru E-8, WO-1 thru CW-3, and O-1 thru O-3,” said Sgt. 1st Class Samantha Martinez, the 19th ESC Lead Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. “This training will help leaders that are not SHARP professionals gain the necessary skills and knowledge required to identify risky behaviors that may lead up to an incident of sexual harassment or assault.”

Mid-Level SHARP Ambassadors are charged with promoting an environment with zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, retaliation, and re-victimization while promoting a healthy environment for all personnel within Area IV to obtain professional growth where Every Soldier Counts.

This builds upon the junior SHARP Ambassadors’ charge to act as the first line of defense among their peers through bystander intervention.

Several military leaders from the 19th ESC have a firm role in the SHARP Ambassador program, including the senior U.S. Army commander in the southern portion of the Republic of Korea, Brig. Gen. Steven Allen.

“This training is useful to help commanders get ahead of sexual misconduct,” said Allen. “By training these SHARP Ambassadors, we are keeping incidents from progressing up the continuum of harm.”

The 19th ESC SHARP Continuum of Harm outlines how a healthy work environment can quickly degrade as a result of acts of sexual harassment and assault.

The idea for a Mid-Level SHARP Ambassadors first came about as a result of 19th ESC monthly Sexual Assault Review Board. The SARB includes an engagement called the “Gen Z Dialogue” where junior Soldiers provide their perspective with command teams and leaders.

The Gen Z Dialogue has been shown to be effective in providing insight on what younger Soldiers expect from leaders because it gives them a voice to articulate ideas that would afford them a better quality of life during their time in Korea.

Soldiers felt that it would be beneficial for leaders to receive more SHARP training than the normal annual requirement.

The SHARP Ambassador program includes lessons on how to intervene, techniques and skills on how to combat any issue with sexual harassment/assault and an in-depth explanation of the roles of SARCs and Victim Advocates.

“The goal is to not only provide additional in-depth education to the specific demographic, but also make them feel as they are part of the SHARP program that protects our people,” said Staff Sgt. Claressa Patterson, the secondary 19th ESC/Area IV Victim Advocate and SHARP Ambassador Level I Primary Instructor. “This is why the term ‘ambassador’ is used. It empowers junior Soldiers to actively engage in bystander intervention with open and candid discussions closely monitored and controlled by credentialed SARCs and Victim Advocates.”