During this semester I prepared this blog about my future career as a requirement of my English class in the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey. In this activity I could develop my writing, thinking and reading skills in an environment of interaction with you, the people that visit my page. I enjoy this activity in many areas: first I shared information that I know about some areas of the U.S. Army. Second, I had the opportunity to talk about the Soldiers that suffer some segregation inside the Armed Forces. Third, I tried to motivate the ladies that work in the difference branches with the story of Capt. Higgins (the first lady in the Blue Angels Team). Fourth, I could give my opinion about the new technology use it and the new Disable Soldiers Memorial in Washington D.C. Fifth, I had the opportunity of talk about the soldiers that went to fight with honor and put the name of Puerto Rico on the map, The Borinqueneers. As a “puertorrican” soldier I feel a high respect and honor to this unit and I think that every soldier of Puerto Rico should keep in mind this sacrifice and finish the work of the Borinqueneers. This blog ends for class reasons, but it will open to all the people that want comment or follow the information of this page. Thanks for the opportunity of share with you information of my career and respect my opinion. We have good soldiers and they need our support in home, so if you can help one, please do it. It’s the best form of express our gratitude of their sacrifice. Thanks everybody and continue your participation on the page.
Hi everyone!! Today is the last of the ten posts for
my University work. This week I want to talk about one serious situation that
the U.S. Army has and affect U.S troops around the world. The problem is the
sexual harassment and sexual assault and the program that the U.S. Army created
is named Sexual Harassment/ Assault Respond & Prevention (SHARP). I know
that if you are a soldier you should take a lot of presentation and courses
about this situation. Today I want dedicate this post to civilian people that
don’t know about this program and the things that it offers for personal or
some friend can uses.
In February 6, 2004 a task force
reviewed Army policies on reporting and addressing allegations of sexual
assault. The information that this team prepare let to the Army create Sexual
Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program. When the sexual harassment is
looked as a potential precursor to assault, the SARP office is restructured and
integrated to POSH forming the Army’s SHARP program. This program offers
orientation and gives information to all military personnel around the world to
avoid and reduce the sexual problems in the U.S. Army duties. The first thing
that they explain you is what is sexual harassment? Well, the U.S. Army
understands that sexual harassment “is a form of gender discrimination that
involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature between the same or opposite
genders.” The types could be: Hostile Environment and the other is Quid pro quo
(this for that).Also the categories
are: verbal, nonverbal and unwelcomed physical contact. Everybody could be
affected by this situation not only females. The other point is the sexual
assault and the Army describes it as “Intentional sexual contact characterized
by use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of authority or when the
victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault includes rape, forcible
sodomy (oral or anal sex), and other unwanted sexual contact that is
aggravated, abusive, or wrongful (including unwanted and inappropriate sexual
contact), or attempts to commit these acts.” Also affected both gender!! I
repeat these words because sometime we think that this problem affects only
females, but while women suffer more this situation, men also suffer it.
The
program is a good tool to decrease this behavior that put low the moral and the
image of our soldiers. The high level leaders give strong orders of act and
resolve these cases before something bad occur. For example weeks ago I went to
ROTC training and the words of our Battalion Commander were “If any of you
practice discriminates or sexual harassment, I will put you out of the
program”. These words show us the important of this situation in the Army. Some
high rank soldier had been put out of the Army because not resolve situation in
their units or practice a sexual behavior with their elements. Sometime we hate
the SHARP orientation because are the same information one and another time,
but while this problem continue we will continue to take this training
constantly. Let’s put the name of the Army high!!!
Sexual Harassment/ Assault Response & Prevention
(SHARP) (2015). U.S. Army. May 6, 2015, complied from: http://www.sexualassault.army.mil/index.cfm
US Army SHARP Program (Sept.14,2014) SHARP
Brigade Video Contest. May 6, 2015, complied from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ThbwjMz3FE
