Subscribe
FT BRAGG, N.C. - On April 25, 2025 the XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters Battalion held a special physical training (PT) event to raise awareness for the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assualt Response and Prevention (SHARP) program in honor of Sexual Assualt Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). The event aimed at bringing together Soldiers across all ranks to help bring awareness to the Army’s SHARP program while building camaraderie within the battalion.
This year’s event took place at the Polo Field near the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (HHBN) and saw participation from both enlisted Soldiers and officers. The morning began with a round-robin physical training circuit with various SHARP workforce entities interwoven aimed at promoting teamwork, fitness, and unity and providing information on different aspects of the SHARP reporting process and resources available, while reinforcing the program’s core message of creating an Army culture of resilience, readiness, safety and respect for all Soldiers, family members and Army Civilians.
“It is a big thing for me to ensure that soldiers were able to receive information and be able to walk away with some great information and physical fitness. To say that during the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., that being physically fit and learning in a cognitive way is a great experience,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Carla Stancil, the XVIII Airborne Corps HHBN Command Sergeant Major.
The SHARP program, a critical initiative for the Army, remained at the forefront of the event. The program’s mission is to eliminate sexual harassment and assault within the ranks, and events like this are key for raising awareness and educating soldiers on the resources and support available to them. Battalion leaders and SHARP representatives acknowledged the program’s importance in fostering a culture of respect and safety, emphasizing that every soldier has a responsibility to uphold these values.
“The SHARP program is a safety net for our people that in the event they become a victim of sexual assualt or sexual harassment. The program exists primarily to support those victims and make sure that they have access to all the resources that they need. Whether that’s healthcare or a channel for reporting to get an investigation started. Our SHARP professionals are primarily oriented on supporting the victims,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Garrett Searle, the XVIII Airborne Corps HHBN Commander.
This PT event is part of the broader Army-wide efforts to integrate SHARP awareness into daily operations. The XVIII Airborne Corps’ participation emphasizes the Army’s ongoing commitment to addressing these issues head-on and ensuring that the lessons from SAAPM resonate beyond April. The Army continues to incorporate training, events, and outreach programs to prevent sexual harassment and assault while fostering an environment of trust and accountability across all units.
“The reason why physical training combined with learning from SHARP is different is because it is not typical. Typically, we are in a classroom setting and it can be kind of boring and people will zone out or fall asleep. But here, we are actually engaged, and there is less of a chance of zoning out,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Patrick Shepherds, attached to the XVIII Airborne Corps HHBN.
The XVIII Airborne Corps remains steadfast in its commitment to the SHARP program and its ongoing mission to eliminate sexual harassment and assualt within the Army. As the month of April comes to a close, the battalion’s PT event serves as a powerful reminder that raising awareness and fostering a culture of respect are essential to maintaining readiness, resilience and cohesion within the ranks.
| Date Taken: | 04.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2025 09:49 |
| Story ID: | 496444 |
| Location: | NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Bragg’s XVIII Airborne Corps Holds Special PT Event for SHARP Awareness Month, by PFC Alexis Fischer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
