Army SHARP

Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention

AR 600-52, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program (11 February 2025). SHARP was removed from AR 600-20 by its 6 February 2025 edition and now has its own regulation. AR 600-20 (Army Command Policy, 15 April 2026) covers Equal Opportunity at Chapter 6 and no longer contains a SHARP chapter. Older study guides citing AR 600-20 Chapter 7, or Chapters 7 and 8, are quoting superseded editions.

Restricted Reporting and Unrestricted Reporting

A reporting option that allows a victim to confidentially disclose a sexual assault to specified individuals (SARC, VA, or healthcare personnel) and receive medical treatment and counseling WITHOUT triggering an official investigation or command notification

A reporting option that triggers an official investigation by law enforcement (CID/military police) and notifies the victim's chain of command. The victim receives full medical treatment, counseling, and legal services

Only a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Victim Advocate (VA), or healthcare personnel. Chaplains provide confidential communication but do NOT file restricted reports

True. A victim may change from Restricted to Unrestricted at any time. However, once a report is Unrestricted, it CANNOT be changed back to Restricted

The SARC is the single point of contact for coordinating the SHARP program at the installation or unit level. They ensure victims receive appropriate care, oversee Victim Advocates, track cases, and provide 24/7 response capability

A VA provides crisis intervention, referrals, and ongoing non-clinical support to victims of sexual assault. They accompany victims to appointments, explain reporting options, and assist with safety planning

DD Form 2910, Victim Reporting Preference Statement. This form documents the victim's choice of Restricted or Unrestricted reporting and is signed by the victim

DD Form 2911, DoD Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Report

Restricted Reports are retained for 50 years in a secure, centralized database to allow victims to convert to Unrestricted Reporting at a later date if they choose

Conduct that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission is made a condition of a person's job or career, or when such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment

Quid Pro Quo (this for that — when submission to sexual conduct is made a condition of employment, pay, or advancement) and Hostile Work Environment (unwelcome sexual conduct that is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with work performance)

Direct (directly confront the situation), Distract (create a diversion to disrupt the situation), and Delegate (get help from someone else such as a leader, bartender, or friend)

Directly telling the person to stop their behavior, such as saying 'Hey, that's not okay' or 'Leave her alone' when witnessing harassment or a potentially dangerous situation

Creating a diversion to break up the situation, such as spilling a drink, asking one of the individuals for directions, changing the subject, or suggesting the group move to a different location

Getting someone else to help intervene, such as alerting a supervisor, NCO, bartender, bouncer, or another friend to step in and address the situation

False. Bystander intervention applies to any situation where you observe warning signs, risk factors, or behaviors that could lead to sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other harmful behaviors — intervention should occur BEFORE an incident escalates

Taking or threatening to take an adverse personnel action, or withholding or threatening to withhold a favorable personnel action, against a person because they reported, planned to report, or were believed to have reported a sexual assault or sexual harassment incident Current rule (AR 600-20, 15 Apr 2026): retaliation also covers acts of cruelty, oppression or maltreatment (UCMJ Art. 93) against a victim or alleged victim by peers or others.

AR 600-52 and federal law prohibit retaliation. Victims can report retaliation to their SARC, VA, chain of command, IG, or through the DoD Safe Helpline. Commanders are required to monitor for and address retaliation

A confidential crisis support service for members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. Available 24/7 by phone (877-995-5247), text (55-247), or online at safehelpline.org

Commanders must establish a command climate that prevents harmful behaviors, ensure all personnel complete annual SHARP training, respond to all reports promptly, protect victims from retaliation, hold offenders accountable, and conduct command climate surveys

Annual SHARP training is required for all Army personnel. Initial SHARP training is required within the first 14 days of initial entrance into active duty or an RC duty status, and Soldiers who complete a PCS are trained within the first 30 days of in-processing to a new installation (AR 600-52, 11 Feb 2025).

A victim of sexual assault who files an Unrestricted Report may request an expedited transfer to a different unit or installation to remove them from the proximity of the alleged offender. The commander must approve or disapprove the request within 5 calendar days of submission (DoDI 6495.02 Vol 1, Change 9, 18 Mar 2025).

True. Every eligible victim of sexual assault has the right to a Special Victims' Counsel, who is a military attorney that provides independent legal advice and representation throughout the military justice process at no cost

A written order issued by a commander directing a Soldier to have no contact with a specified person. It is used to protect victims of sexual assault or harassment from the alleged offender. Violation of an MPO is a punishable offense under UCMJ

The right to be treated with dignity and respect, to be informed of reporting options, to receive medical care, to have a SARC and VA, to have a Special Victims' Counsel, to request an expedited transfer, to be protected from retaliation, and to be kept informed of case status

Article 120 (Rape and Sexual Assault), Article 120b (Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child), Article 120c (Other Sexual Misconduct), and Article 134 (General Article) for related offenses

A freely given agreement to the conduct at issue by a competent person. Lack of verbal or physical resistance does NOT constitute consent. A person cannot consent when incapacitated by alcohol, drugs, or unconsciousness, or when under coercion or threat

False. Intoxication of the alleged offender is NOT a defense to sexual assault. The focus is on whether the victim was capable of consenting, not whether the offender was sober

The Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (DEOCS) assesses the unit's climate regarding equal opportunity and SHARP issues. Commanders must conduct it within 120 days of assuming command and annually thereafter, and develop action plans to address findings

All individuals in a supervisory position are required to report all acts of sexual assault of which they become aware; this includes anyone in the chain of command, such as supervisors, first sergeants, and senior enlisted advisors (AR 600-52, 11 Feb 2025). Restricted reports are made to a SARC, VA, or healthcare personnel; a chaplain, SVC/VLC/VC, or legal assistance attorney cannot accept a Restricted Report (DoDI 6495.02 Vol 1, Change 9, 18 Mar 2025).

Failure to report by a mandatory reporter is a violation of AR 600-52 and may result in adverse action under UCMJ or administrative action. It undermines the SHARP program and can deny victims access to services

False. Chaplains provide privileged communication (confidential), but they do NOT file Restricted Reports. Only SARCs, VAs, and healthcare personnel can receive Restricted Reports. However, chaplain communications are fully confidential and protected

Privileged communication with a chaplain is confidential. A Restricted Report is documented on DD Form 2910 and kept in DSAID; it does not trigger an investigation, and the senior commander is notified that a sexual assault has been reported but is not given the victim's name or other personally identifying information (AR 600-52, 11 Feb 2025).

Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database — a centralized DoD database that captures information about sexual assault reports to track case outcomes, ensure services to victims, and support research and analysis

Alcohol use, isolated environments, power imbalances, unit deployments, lack of unit cohesion, tolerance of sexist language or behavior, and failure by leaders to address inappropriate conduct

Not In My Squad (NIMS) — emphasizing that prevention starts at the lowest levels with every Soldier taking personal responsibility to prevent harmful behaviors in their immediate team

Listen without judgment, ensure the person's safety, provide the SARC and Safe Helpline contact information, explain reporting options, do NOT promise confidentiality (if you are a mandatory reporter), and do NOT investigate on your own

True. Sexual assault affects all genders. Male victims have the same reporting options and are entitled to the same support services including SARC, VA, SVC, and medical care

Misconduct by a victim that is discovered as a result of the sexual assault report (e.g., underage drinking, fraternization). DoD policy generally defers disciplinary action for collateral misconduct to encourage victims to report without fear of punishment Current rule (DoDI 6495.02 Vol 1, Change 9, 18 Mar 2025; AR 600-52 para 3-9): under the Safe-to-Report policy, if the victim's alleged collateral misconduct is deemed minor, the victim shall not be disciplined; if it is non-minor, the protections do not apply and the victim may be subject to disciplinary action.

Complaints can be made through the chain of command, the SHARP/EO channels or the IG. Formal sexual-harassment complaints are referred to a military criminal investigative organization (MCIO) or another independent investigator (DoDI 1020.03 Change 4, 10 Dec 2025). The commander still takes corrective action on the findings.

Commanders must acknowledge receipt of a formal complaint within 3 duty days and complete the investigation within 14 calendar days (or request an extension) Current rule (DoDI 1020.03 Change 4, 10 Dec 2025): to the extent practicable, within 72 hours the complainant's commanding officer informs the complainant that the investigation has started, and formal sexual-harassment complaints go to an MCIO or other independent investigator.

SARCs must complete an 80-hour certification course through SHARP Academy. VAs must complete a 40-hour certification course. Both must complete annual sustainment training and maintain D-SAACP certification

Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program — the professional certification required for all SARCs and VAs to ensure they meet national standards for victim advocacy

Sudden changes in behavior or performance, withdrawal from peers, increased alcohol use, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, unexplained injuries, reluctance to be alone with certain individuals, and avoidance of certain locations

True. Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile work environment, even if it is not directed at a specific individual. Pervasive sexist comments and jokes contribute to a hostile environment

Set the example, enforce standards, address inappropriate behavior immediately, foster an environment of trust and respect, know the SHARP resources available, conduct regular training, and maintain an open-door policy for reporting

A program in DSAID that allows Restricted Reports to be anonymously matched. If two or more restricted reports identify the same alleged offender, the SARC is notified so the victims can be informed and given the option to convert to Unrestricted Reporting Current rule (AR 600-52, 11 Feb 2025): entries go into the CATCH database, and eligible victims include those who filed a restricted report, those who filed an unrestricted report but have not disclosed the subject's name to law enforcement, and those who decided not to file any official report.

True. Sexual assault by a spouse or intimate partner is covered under SHARP. Victims of intimate partner sexual assault have the same reporting options and access to services as any other sexual assault victim