SHARP
The USMA SHARP Office exists to help prevent and eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault. The Army's policy is that sexual harassment and sexual assault is not acceptable conduct and will not be condoned or tolerated.
SHARP
The USMA SHARP Office exists to help prevent and eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault. The Army's policy is that sexual harassment and sexual assault is not acceptable conduct and will not be condoned or tolerated.
Sexual Harassment
Defined
AW AR 600-20, paragraph 7-4, defines sexual harassment as a form of gender discrimination which includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal and or physical conduct of a sexual nature between the same or opposite genders when:
(1) Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person's job, pay or career.
(2) Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by a person is used as a basis for career or employment decisions affecting that person.
(3) Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.
(4) Any person in a supervisory or command position who uses or condones implicit or explicit sexual behavior to control, influence or affect the career, pay or job of personnel is engaging in sexual harassment. Similarly, anyone who makes deliberate or repeated unwelcome verbal comments, gestures or physical contact of a sexual nature is engaging in sexual harassment.
Action
IAW AR 600-20, Appendix C, Sexual Harassment complaint options include:
(1) An informal complaint is one that is not in writing and may be voiced to the offending person, to a supervisor, or both. The intention is that the offending behavior will stop with no further action required. A memorandum of record on resolution is highly recommended by whoever resolved the complaint.
(2) A formal complaint is a written statement of the behavior and/or situation submitted to proper authority and/or a certified Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) for processing through official complaint channels. A person files a formal complaint using DA Form 7279. Personnel have the right to present a complaint to the command without fear of intimidation, reprisal or harassment. All formal complaints will be reported within three calendar days to the first General Courts-Martial Convening Authority (GCMCA) in the chain of command.
(3) Anonymous complaint actions will depend upon the extent of information provided by complainants. If an anonymous complaint contains sufficient information to permit the initiation of an investigation, the investigation will be initiated by the commanding officer or supervisor. If an anonymous complaint does not contain sufficient information to permit the initiation of an investigation, the information will be documented in a Memorandum for Record and maintained on file with the USCC SHARP Office. If a member of the USCC staff or BTD receives an anonymous sexual harassment complaint, contact the USCC SARC and/or VA immediately.
(4) The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office is the responsible agency to support and process formal or informal sexual harassment complaints for Department of the Army Civilian personnel. Sexual harassment complaints must be filed with the EEO Office within 45 days of the incident.
Click the following button to fill out the Anonymous Reporting Form for Sexual Harassment.
Sexual Assault
Defined
Sexual assault is a criminal offense that has no place in the Army. It degrades mission readiness by devastating the Army's ability to work effectively as a team. Sexual assault is incompatible with Army values and is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice(UCMJ) and other Federal and state laws.
Sexual assault is the intentional sexual contact characterized by use of force, physical threat and/or abuse of authority when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender, spousal relationship or age of the victim.
Action
There are two reporting options for sexual assault, restricted and unrestricted:
(1) Restricted reporting allows a Soldier who is a sexually assaulted, on a confidential basis, to disclose the details of their assault to specifically identified individuals and receive medical treatment and counseling, without triggering the official investigative process. Soldiers who are sexually assaulted and desire restricted reporting under this policy should report the assault to the SARC or VA.
(2) Unrestricted reporting allows a Soldier who is sexually assaulted and desires medical treatment, counseling, and an official investigation of his/her allegation to use current reporting channels (for example, the chain of command or law enforcement), or he/she may report the incident to the SARC or the on-call VA. Upon notification of the reported sexual assault, the SARC will immediately notify a VA. Additionally, with the victim's consent, the healthcare provider will conduct a forensic examination, which may include the collection of evidence. Details regarding the incident will be limited to only those personnel who have a legitimate need to know.
All unrestricted reports of sexual assault will be immediately referred to the criminal investigation command (CID) for investigation.