Army troops are taking the fight against sexual harassment and sexual assault into their own hands.
At the end of the year, Congress mandated that they take charge of the formerly civilian-driven Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program (S.H.A.R.P.)
Now their training is reaching across oceans and beyond military gates.
"We are here to change the culture, because there is a problem in the Armed forces with sexual harassment/sexual assault," said S.H.A.R.P. Instructor Joseph Fog.
It's a battle that's fought both at home and overseas.
Deployed or not, every member of the Army must get three hours of S.H.A.R.P. training each year, so Joseph went to Afghanistan in September to instruct them.
"There's another war going on, and we're told in the Army that we can fight on this many fronts at one time," said Joseph.
It's part of a new movement to not only prevent sexual misconduct, but also to empower soldiers to intervene when they see it.
"Hopefully, the SHARP program will effectively be the blueprint for the nation, the military first, and then the rest of the nation," said CAPT Carsten Stahr, Equal Opportunity and Sexual Assault and Prevention Manager, U.S. Forces, Afghanistan.
The program also helps victims get the help they need.
More than 100 sought out services from S.H.A.R.P. on Fort Hood in 2012.
S.H.A.R.P. Victim Advocate SFC Richard Dallen says, "It's a tough time for them, so it's hard to battle anything without getting the proper help."
The program connects victims with an advocate, like Richard, who helps them with medical and counseling needs, also coordinating with investigators.
"This is a tragic event that occurs to an individual, and so the advocates are there to help them through the entire process," said LTC Jacqueline Davis, S.H.A.R.P. Program Manager on Fort Hood.
Now education remains the weapon of choice to stop it before it occurs.
"It's a war that we can win, but it's going to take a lot. It's going to take a lot of change," said Joseph.
And it will take an army to make that happen.
FORT HOOD'S S.H.A.R.P. HOTLINE For Victims of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
(254)319-4671
Reporter: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
Photographer: Chris Buford cbuford@kcentv.com
