The Thunderbolt Sexual Harassment/ Assault Response Prevention race

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers, noncommissioned Officers, and Officers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade conduct physical training and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention (SHARP) training/race in the Brigade footprint. During the training, Soldiers were divided into teams with a team leader who read off questions and the team then had five seconds to answer the question. If the team had the wrong answer, they had to execute an exercise given by the instructor at the section point. After five minutes at a section, everyone did an exercise given by the SHARP representative before rotating to the next section. This circuit training combined physical training with education to kick off April as the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention and Awareness month, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, April 1.  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

04.06.2015

Story by Sgt. Quanesha Barnett 

17th Field Artillery Brigade

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade (17th FAB) conducted physical training (PT) and a Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) race in the Brigade footprint on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, April 1.

This was a circuit race combined with physical training and education that kicked off the Thunderbolt SHARP Awareness month.

What is a SHARP Awareness Month? The SHARP month is an opportunity for the Army to emphasize the ongoing commitment to eliminate sexual harassment and assault in the Army.

The focus is on prevention, caring for victims, and taking appropriate action against Soldiers who commit these offenses. It highlights the ongoing initiatives to aggressively address these issues.

During the race, Soldiers were divided into teams with a team leader. Once the team leader read off a question, the team then had five seconds to give the correct answer. If the team got the answer wrong, they had to execute an exercise given by the instructor at the section point.

After five minutes at a section, Soldiers conducted an exercise given by the SHARP representative before rotating to the next section. This was an opportunity for Soldiers, NCOs, and officers to build cohesion while emphasizing education and the importance of SHARP Awareness Month.

“This year I decided to give the Soldiers a different type of variety for the SHARP race and consolidate it with PT to get the attention of Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jamia Hocog, 17th FAB, SHARP representative. “Different sections were represented such as the SHARP Resource Center, Command Investigation Command, Army Substance Abuse Program, Unit Ministry Team, and Medical team.”

“The purpose of having different resources is to make sure Soldiers understand how they can get the proper help and care they need during the process while working with different SHARP representatives,” said Hocog.

“This was something different for me because we moved to different SHARP sections and learned about the different ways to use SHARP without sitting in a classroom looking at power points slides,” said Sgt. Nicholas Philips, a 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery, Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. “I enjoyed the training and learned a lot during PT.”

“I learned that alcohol abuse and the used of drugs could affect your family and career. Don’t be afraid to get help,” said Spc. Rebeeka Burges, 5-5 ADA and radar repairer specialist. “I liked that the training was combined with PT to keep Soldiers motivated.”

“This was a motivating race and it put a smile on Soldiers face,” said Hocog. “Hopefully this race will help Soldiers used SHARP if ever necessary and not be afraid.”

For more information on the Army’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention Program, please follow the link below.
http://www.sexualassault.army.mil/index.cfm

• Date Taken: 04.06.2015
• Date Posted: 04.06.2015 19:22
• Story ID: 159245
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US