An In-Depth Look at the SHARP Program’s Efficacy: Does it Deliver on Its Promises?

A Personal Note From The Author:

Hello, Jamie here. I want to take a moment to share some personal insights and set the stage for this multi-part series on the SHARP program’s effectiveness in combating sexual harassment and assault within the military.

As a U.S. Army veteran, I’ve sat through countless SHARP briefings and PowerPoint presentations — so many that they became a rote exercise, something we just had to “check off” annually. I vividly recall my last year of service, watching as my platoon sergeant went through the slides again. What struck me was the eye-rolling and laughing from male and female soldiers. The briefings had become so repetitive that they’d lost their impact; they no longer grabbed our attention in a way that could bring about real change.

However, the issue isn’t just with repetitive education or inadequate training. It’s much deeper than that. It’s the systemic failure to deliver justice for victims of sexual harassment and assault. While the SHARP program aims to educate, its efficacy is severely compromised if an independent entity doesn’t thoroughly investigate allegations and victims don’t feel protected.

This blog post is the first in a series examining the SHARP program’s effectiveness. Following this series conclusion, I’ll be sharing an emotionally charged story of a former military member who not only suffered through a horrendous sexual assault but was…