Why are Army leaders failing so abysmally to implement a successful SHARP?

A organization must have a culture that does not allow perpetrators to act with impunity. Accountability is the key. The "make it go away" style of leadership leads to perpetrators having a free-for-all, and then getting pushed on to become another unit's problem.

It really boils down to power in the wrong place, and an outdated chain of command requirement. When I was in the ARMY, I complained about sexual harassment and was told that everyone is "treated differently as a woman". This was from a female commander who called in my female platoon sergeant to agree with her. I was told to go to mental health, where they promptly, although "honorably" chaptered me out of the ARMY for "preexisting conditions". The problem was that we were the military police, and when I arrived from basic training my company was already under investigation for sexual violations (things like high ranking soldiers sleeping with the newly arrived teens and even marrying them). Needless to say, the commanders do not want to appear like they are not fixing problems like these. When I complained about ridiculous comments and refused to work with a certain sergeant, I was first threatened with jail. I said, "I work in a prison (USDB), jail would be a step up." So then, they sent me up the long and useless chain of command where a First Sergeant told me I had been having a "stellar" career, and tried to cajole me back to my post without further "problems". I eventually ended up in a doctor's office telling me he could "get me out of the Army". I thought: "ow about, you get the pervs out?" But by the end of a tortuous "therapy" attempt to fix "my" issues, I was writing Congress to speed up the discharge. Anyway, as long as the people who are molesting you and your rights are your superiors or reflections of their performance, crap will always roll right back downhill to you. Policies that link the chain of command in a criminal and civil liability charge if they don't take immediate action to protect you from further injury and personal suits for damages will work to break this ridiculous pattern. Of course it could backfire and cause the higher ups to more ferociously deny responsibility. By the time you reach someone powerful enough and courageous, not alone concerned enough to care, you've been victimized by multiple people. We simply need more power to immediately remove ourselves from the situation. One idea is that a report of sexual harassment results in a temporary, but immediate leave of absence (or possible transfer) for the accuser, while an objective investigation takes place by investigators from another post.

I believe that the primary challenge with SHARP as it is currently implemented focuses so much on the categorization of violations and empowering the victim that there is little room for discussion regarding the underlying cultural issues in the profession of arms and no room for subsequent instruction on basic interpersonal relationships and mutual respect. Instead it produces an atmosphere of fear and political correctness that can reduce the unit cohesion that the training is supposed to enhance. Refusing to ignore the elephant in the room...the redefinition and introduction of new (accepted) categories of sexual attraction and behavior causes the backdrop of these issues to be more complex and confusing for leaders and subordinates alike. Taken together, the potential for meaningful progress in this arena continues to diminish.

I want to add to my earlier comments. Back in the 70'sI was a troop during the transition to the All Volunteer Army. Later as a young "save-tail" Infantry LT, I had to deal with the "Rep-68" Soldiers as well as the new volunteers. I am here to tell you it was no "cake walk" as both a troop and young officer. Over the years I transition into the Reserves and into co-ed units. Many of us were the blind leading the blind while learning to lead in this new "leadership environment." As we went from mission and assignment to another the central elements was "Mission First - Soldiers Always". I can tell you the Army has come a long way from what some of you "old timers" experienced and that is a good thing.

Yes there are "leadership challenges" with young troops and biological hormones raging is chief among them. But again, Leadership has to give a SH#% and work to create an environment where every Soldier, regardless of sex/race/background/orientation is respected, is valued and validated. We talk about making units safe....that is how you do it. As a leader you have to live, breath, and instill the Army Values and the Warrior Ethos. We now know more about how to integrate and blend diversity into a cohesive and effective unit...and it starts with maintaining standards of conduct as well as performance....and giving a SH#%.

Can you fight biology? Nope! If only because when men and women get together there will always be those that want to pair off and scratch the itch or fall in love/lust (retired about the same time DADT was being retired). As a leader, all one can do is meet with them, counsel them, and document the process once it hits your radar. In many cases the individuals can act as mature and drama-free adults. But some can't and in those cases the chain of command above you has to be "pro-actively" brought into the loop. If they are within the same unit and "good order and discipline" is in jeopardy (for any reason) then removal of one or both from the unit is in order.

It is a balancing act and the commander and the NCO core of the unit have to in sync on this issue or you will quickly have a "tar baby mess" on your hands. And no one comes clean.

Because they are always the people who are SHARP violators.

in my opinion the implementation of our SHARP program has been successful. I received a brief by my regiment commander, as well as classes during the year.

I think most people are upset because sexual assaults and sexual harassments are still happening. People expect this utopia society in the military where nothing bad happens (sexual assault). But the reality is that you will never ever eliminate sexual assaults.

CPT (Join to see) You asked a great question.... before I respond form mw retired fox hole . with a Lady Vet standing at my side for the last 24 years..so her experience as well.... . I d ask you the same.... as one of the newest members of the US Army (couple of years now, but still relatively new)
Having gone though likely countless SHARP briefings now, perhaps even given one your self... What are YOUR observations?

While I know there is a problem in society, surely it exists in the military, maybe even at a higher rate. I served along side of women for the last 8 years of my career, I was a CSM for that period. I never heard of or saw backlash, and as a CSM I was at the apex of those issues for assessment and determination, advising BDE level Commanders and the General Officers. All issues were taken seriously and reviewed at the highest level, not the lowest. This is a topic that requires maturity and a clear understanding of the issues at large, and the impact it can have on both individuals and the morale of an entire organization if handled incorrectly.

If Soldier know that Commands take this and all other issues seriously, They also know that they must stand back, follow protocols, and ensure good order and discipline, with this or any other case.

It is when young Commanders believebtgay can handle this type of very complex issue on their own, or when senior Commands have policy in place that states it will be handled at the lowest level, is when problems begin. Don’t get me wrong, the Company and Battalion leadership exercise legal authority, the higher Command provides over-site and resources in these cases.

In closing, where there is backlash, there is a lack of proper authority. Where there is backlash, there should be further punishment. Even if it is determined to be a false claim, backlash is against good order and discipline.

Thank you for your service.

I just think that it's a systemic issue that crops from 1) Socio-cultural attitudes that is not just in the Army but is across the Country as a whole, it's the same way legal cases are handled Country-wide. 2) The Commanders and Leaders, are not really equipped to address these issues on a practical and realistic level.
3) The SHARP/SARC currently use a cookie-cutter solutions to all allegations.
4) The sentimental nature of the issue; sentimental issues often cause leaders to be overly careful to act in a particular direction due to the multichotomous nature of the issue fed with biases from different schools of thought; As a Country our moral judgment darts into different directions.
5) Granted that some cases are obvious, but some have to be investigated in detail to verify the authenticity of claims that are not really obvious.

As a country our society is reactive rather than proactive, hence most of the classes we take in the Army are designed to make us aware of symptoms. I believe that TRUE PREVENTION ; SHARP has to be directed at building and developing our value system towards simple RESPECT for others. It becomes impossible to do in an institution like the Army or any other Institution in the general society. It goes back to our homes.

All of us have the ability to bring out the Good, Bad & Ugly attributes; but I'd like to believe that our individual upbringing plays a big role in what we become.
Nonetheless, we just have individually do our best in our individual roles to deter, avoid, prevent, mitigate and eventually control this ugly monster that has come to eat out on the fabric of our Military Brotherhood. If you think that you're a victim or a reverse-victim, you need to speak out to the IG, SVJA and even the Chaplain. Never give up; keep fighting!

1LT, I am sorry to hear that you have experienced reprisal or know those who have. I have worked with several commands and have never seen what the law deems reprisal for a report. If you feel that you or another person is a victim of reprisal, see your Special Victims Judge Advocate, the IG, or go to the highest commander in post and voice your concerns.

Ive been in the army for 34 years. When I got to AIT in 1982 they pulled us all into a room and explained to us how we couldn't sexually harass the female soldiers (at that time it was about cat calls). This was also about the time they started integrating male female units. 34 years later they are pulling us back into the same room and telling us about sexual harassment. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Its still the same speech, different speaker. Back then, there were male barracks and female barracks. males wernt allowed in female barracks and vise versa. Maybe we need to go back to this if they are serious about fixing this.