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FORT BLISS, Texas – Every Soldier in the Army comes from somewhere. From well-known big cities to tiny towns hardly heard of.
“It was quiet, as a small town, it was safe and friendly, a good place to grow up, but there were not many employment opportunities available as I got older,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Simkins.
Simkins first joined the Army to get the G.I. Bill, but he also wanted the training, experience, and travel the Army offers.
“The Army was the best way for me to gain access to new possibilities, to see and do new things.” said Simkins.
He just did not know how impactful the Army career path would become.
“One of the things I learned as a young Soldier was always to conduct ‘site improvement,’ that is, to leave something better than it was when I received it,” Simkins said. “So, for me, this is my way of trying to use my experience to help the Army change before I retire.”
Simkins has served in the Army for over 18 years and intends to retire after 20. In the last four years he’s found his calling.
“I have worked in the SHARP program for three and a half years.”
Simkins serves as the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator of the 1st Armored Division, Division Artillery as part of the Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention Program.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of working with the SHARP Program is seeing the positive impact,” he said. “I can never undo what was done, I can be part of them overcoming and hopefully growing from their experience.”
The SARC is considered the center of gravity when it comes to ensuring that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate and responsive care.
“We understand our work environment, what resources are available, and how to access those resources,” he said. “In addition, the generalized skillset that we already possess with the additional SHARP-specific training allows us to benefit our clients, our commanders, and our organizations in a way that no one else can”.
Not everybody can be a SARC and SHARP representative. The Soldier who is selected must be trustworthy.
Simkins says a SHARP professional must, above all else, be empathetic.
“They should also be very tactful, not just for our clients, but also because of the organizational level at which we work and the subject matter we deal with,” he said.
Simkins' role as both a SARC and SHARP representative is challenging, because he is both advocating for clients while working to change the Army's culture as a whole.
“The most challenging aspect of being a SHARP professional is trying not to feel overwhelmed,” Simkins explained. “We support our clients as they put their lives back together after an extremely traumatic event.
At the organizational level, Simkins said, “We are trying to change a culture; both of those are big deals, and both of those can be challenging.”
Despite the challenge, Simkins found the life experience he was looking for 18 years ago.
“This way, some of the things that my generation and I endured and perhaps were complicit in no longer have to be endured.”
Simkins understands the hesitancy to report traumatic experiences, but he is confident in his profession and his peers.
“I am certain that there are people who would gladly support them as they overcome their experiences,” he said. “One thing I do know is nothing gets better on its own. Time does not heal all wounds. So please reach out to somebody, for yourself and those you love.”
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.24.2022 18:08 |
| Story ID: | 431829 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Impacting lives as a SARC: A leader's perspective, by SGT Luis Santiago, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
