Photo By Terrance Bell | Male and female Soldiers of the 59th Ordnance Brigade pose for pictures recently. The...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. - A few years ago when the Army launched full-fledged efforts to eradicate sexual crimes, it did so under the premise that an institutional change in culture was necessary to meets its goal.
One could look no further than the confines of the 59th Ordnance Brigade here to recognize change is on its way. Soldiers assigned to its various units recently spoke about the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Abuse Response and Prevention program, its impact and their roles in making it dynamic and progressive.
One of the students, Pfc. Jared Smith, said the Army’s training and education efforts at the grassroots level have had such an immersive effect on its culture that is difficult to ignore.
“SHARP is all around,” said the student first sergeant of Bravo Company, 16th Ord. Battalion. “The simple things you do by the music you play, the conversations you have with your battle buddies or simple horseplay can lead to sexual harassment or abuse and can lead to problems.”
Smith’s climate assessment and advice could come from any student attending AIT today. The SHARP training implemented during the past few years has permeated the ranks and is shifting attitudes and changing behavior.
SHARP’s mandated training program is the biggest factor in the turnaround, said students. Soldiers are introduced to SHARP during basic combat training and are required to undergo 90 minutes of instruction during AIT. That training starts as soon as Soldiers arrive here. Platoon sergeants and student leaders promptly brief students on reporting procedures and individual expectations. Formal and informal training sessions are then held weekly to provide some measure of continuity to what was first learned in basic training.
“Every Wednesday some of our PT time to talk about SHARP incidents and how we can prevent certain behaviors,” said Pvt. Joel Loy, a 20-year-old assigned to Charlie Co., 16th Ord. Bn. “Every other Friday, we try to do a skit so we can show what is actually happening in the company and how to best deal with those situations.”
Other elements of the brigade either hold meetings or interactive discussions. The strategy, said students, is one of prevention.
“We discuss any problems we might be having in any platoon,” said 17-year-old Pvt. Autumn Williams, Alpha Co., 16th Ord. Bn. “We make sure we fix them before the next week starts up.”
The students said they take their cue from the noncommissioned officers in their respective companies. The NCOs, they reiterated, strike a serious, business-like tone in how they train Soldiers about SHARP.
“The approach is very professional,” said Pfc. Joel Arroyo, an 18-year-old student first sergeant assigned Delta Co., 16th Ord. Bn. “I think the NCOs take it very seriously in the way they teach the classes.”
The students said the NCOs’ seriousness about the subject is not restricted to the classroom. It is evident in how they conduct business on a daily basis. Pvt. Darlene Roque said she has noticed on several occasions how cadre members handle innocent but potentially troublesome acts of horseplay between students.
“They normally tell them to ‘stop what they’re doing, that perception is everything and they could get in trouble for what they’re doing,’” said the Soldier assigned to Delta Co., 16th Ord. Bn.
The students play a part in policing as well. The student-led Mentor To Mentor program is a vehicle that helps. It is a SHARP component designed to give students in leadership positions more controlling interest in helping to create work and living environments more conducive to good order and discipline. It is essentially a means to help students deal with issues at the lowest level. Pvt. Samantha Gardner said it is an effective go-between.
“Soldiers know they can talk to our student leadership – such as our platoon guides and squad leaders – and they can talk to the higher-ups if the Soldiers are nervous about talking to NCOs,” said the Alpha Co. Soldier, referring to those who need consultation or a comforting ear. “It’s nice because responsibilities are spread out among all levels of leadership. There’s a web of people available to you if you’re not comfortable talking with any particular person.”
Undoubtedly, the PTP program is proactive and preventative in nature. Indicative of that feature is each company’s “House Rules,” which reflect how they want students to think about sexual harassment and assault. Smith said his company’s is a simple message to help reinforce the most important principles.
“Don’t say it, don’t do it, don’t touch it. Do the right thing when no one is looking. Stand up and speak up for those who can’t speak up for themselves,” he said.
Among some of the other house rules: “Mocking is for Mocking Birds! (SHARP is not a joke);” “Your Gender Doesn’t Matter! Unwanted touching is inappropriate!” and “We make the difference: we hear it, we see it, we stop it.”
The ownership stake is quite evident in the PTP program. Capt. Jeffery Hill, commander, Bravo Co., 16th Ord. Co., said this kind of input is what makes PTP more effective than previous efforts to tackle sexual harassment/assault.
“I think it’s a great program and Soldiers are receptive to it,” he said. “They want to build a better team. We have a smarter, more advanced group of people coming in than we’ve had in the past. That’s not across the board, but they are catching on to things; they’re able to embrace that team mentality. They understand they make the difference. The peer to peer program is the way ahead.”
The jury is still out about whether the Army’s SHARP efforts are sustainable and whether it is changing the culture. Hill said more data is needed before any definitive assertion can be made. Attitudes, however, are definitely changing, if Soldiers like Smith are any indication.
“The U.S. Army is a job,” he said. “This uniform we wear is our suit. We need to conduct ourselves in a business-like manner. It’s not all about fun. We do what we have to do. We can conduct business with the opposite sex without fooling around. We’re professionals. You’re always going to have some bad apples, but the majority of us are going to do the right thing.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2015 08:31 |
| Story ID: | 180955 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Faces of change: students in training paramount to Army’s effort to retool culture as it pertains to sexual offenses, by Terrance Bell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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