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SHARP
During the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention training held June 18-21, the Multinational Battle Group- East SHARP Program encouraged small group discussions on several SHARP topics. This included a discussion on the focus and operation of the SHARP Program, the effectiveness of the current prevention strategies, and the individual responsibility and accountability for maintaining a climate of dignity and respect.
One of the training tools utilized in the small group discussions was an excerpt from a case where a soldier, U. S. Army Pfc. Natasha Schuette, was sexually harassed and assaulted by her drill sergeant during basic training.
Schuette shares her experience because she wants to ensure other soldiers don’ t experience the same physical trauma and mental anguish she endured. She wants to encourage everyone to report any incident involving sexual assault and harassment. With Schuette’ s permission, the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic believes her story can be used to reinforce the importance of the Army profession as a way to eradicate sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Schuette’ s account outlines everyone’ s role in preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault. Everyone from the individual soldier all the way up through the chain-of-command has a role in the SHARP Program. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commander for the U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, said that recruits and trainees in his command are a uniquely vulnerable group in the Army, but even well-intentioned leaders haven’ t always seen that.
The perpetrator, Schuette’ s drill sergeant, was found guilty and convicted in November of 2012. His charges included forcible sodomy, abusive sexual contact, indecent conduct, assault, adultery, and failing to follow a lawful order. He was sentenced to five years in prison, reduced in rank to private, and he forfeited his $ 2,886 monthly salary.
We will continue to seek new ways to spread the SHARP Program’ s message to all soldiers throughout the battle group. If you have any ideas or suggestions on how to improve our training, contact the MNBG-E SARC / SHARP Specialist at terry. l. jenkins. mil @ mail. mil or the MNBG-E VA / SHARP Specialist at danielle. e. carlsen. mil @ mail. mil. You can also reach one of us at DSN 4567 or cell 049-774-590. We are more than happy to hear your ideas and take them into consideration!
To view PFC Schuette’ s interview visit: http:// cape. army. mil / case % 20studies / pfcschuette. php
MNBG-E Victim Advocate / SHARP Specialist 1st Lt. Danielle E. Carlsen
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MNBG-E conducts SHARP training with small, centralized groups.( U. S. Army photos by 1st Lt. Danielle Carlsen, MNBG-E SHARP Specialist)