Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual Harassment means any of the following:

     * Conduct that involves (1) unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and deliberate or repeated offensive comments or gestures of a sexual nature, and (2) is so severe or pervasive that a reasonable person would perceive, and the victim does perceive, the environment as hostile or offensive.

     * Any use or condonation, by any person in a supervisory or command position, of any form of sexual behavior to control, influence or affect the career, pay or job of a member of the armed forces or a civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

     * Any deliberate or repeated unwelcome verbal comment or gesture of a sexual nature by any member of the armed forces or Civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

     * For military personnel, the working environment pertains 24/7, on or off post, and on or off duty. The Army provides informal and formal complaint process options for complainants. The SHARP Program is responsible for the Army's sexual harassment prevention efforts.

     * The Army Equal Employment Opportunity Office provides assistance to Civilian employee complainants and SHARP personnel are responsible for military sexual harassment complaints.

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual Assault. Intentional sexual contact characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the victim does not or cannot consent. The term includes a broad category of sexual offenses consisting of the following specific UCMJ offenses: rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, forcible sodomy (forced oral or anal sex), or attempts to commit these offenses.

SHARP's mission is to enhance Army readiness through the prevention of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and associated retaliatory behaviors while providing comprehensive response capabilities. SHARP envisions an Army free of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and associated retaliatory behaviors.

SHARP website  and learn about I. A.M. STRONG, sexual harassment, sexual assault, FAQs, prevention and training, messaging for leaders, information for SHARP professional, policies, and other resources.

The Community Resource Guide  lists SHARP programs and services available to members of US military communities including military service members, their family members, DoD civilian personnel and retirees.

Other Resources

     * Health.mil  has information about other Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs 

     * Building Hope and Resiliency  Addressing the Effects of Sexual Assault Online Course  is a self-guided, online, educational program that seeks to help you begin to recover, heal and build resiliency after a sexual assault. Recognizing the impact that trauma can have, this program is part of a comprehensive effort to enhance resilience and improve readiness across the Total Force.

     * The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office  (SAPRO) is responsible for oversight of the Department's sexual assault policy. SAPRO works hand-in-hand with the Services and the civilian community to develop and implement innovative prevention and response programs.