Team 19 hosts first ever SHARP Summit

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Green | Col. Kelly Lawler, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s deputy commanding officer, addresses attendees during Team 19’s first SHARP Summit at the Evergreen Community Club, Oct. 17. The purpose of the summit is to examine sexual harassment/assault, explore the problem in depth, share lessons learned and develop strategies focused on prevention. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Green/Released)  

CAMP WALKER, 27, SOUTH KOREA

10.17.2014

Story by Sgt. 1st Class David Green 

19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

CAMP WALKER, South Korea – Senior leaders from across the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command came together for Team 19’s first ever Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention Summit Oct. 17, at the Evergreen Community Club.

The SHARP Summit, organized by the 19th ESC Sharp program, examined the factors of sexual harassment and assault in-depth and also shared lessons learned to develop strategies focused on prevention.

Guest speakers and independent experts from outside the organization addressed the audience about the various causes and signs of sexual violence and the different tools command teams could use to combat inappropriate behavior and misconduct.

In addition to the guest speakers, the day involved a series of small group sessions. These small groups gave commanders and senior leaders a chance to learn from each other and share their experiences with implementing the SHARP program within their units.

Capt. Michael Okeowo, commander, 52nd Ordnance Company, says he has yet to deal with sexual assault or harassment claim in his command but still finds training events such as this invaluable.

“Being here today will afford me to learn about other cases on the peninsula so it will prepare me to tackle a case like that if it does occur in my command,” said Okeowo.

According to Col. Kelly Lawler, 19th ESC deputy commander, the threat to our force from inappropriate behavior is as serious as those faced on the battlefield and there is no such thing as “over training."

“Does anyone think we have too much IED training when it’s killing our Soldiers,” Lawler asked the crowd. “Sexual harassment and assault is killing our Soldiers, our culture and our profession.”

SHARP is the number priority in Team 19 and while this is their first summit on the issue they plan to host more in the coming months to help leaders better understand the problem and continue to confront any inappropriate behavior in their formations.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2014
• Date Posted: 10.22.2014 02:47
• Story ID: 145755
• Location: CAMP WALKER, 27, KR