Photo By Master Sgt. Brandon Bednarek | Soldiers from 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division signed a Sexual...... read more read more
CAMP CASEY, South Korea – Organizations are like swatches of fabric; if woven tightly together, they become stronger as a whole than their individual threads. If torn or punctured, however, the fabric unravels as if the fabric didn’t exist.
Sexual offenses in military organizations work in similar ways by creating gaps between Soldiers and leadership alike. It also diminishes unit morale and establishes an environment of distrust.
“The unit is a fabric of Soldiers,” said Col. Michael Lawson, the commander of 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. “When you have a sexual assault or harassment occurring in your unit, it weakens the strength of that fabric that is woven together. It undermines the trust that Soldiers have between each other.”
To do their part in preventing these kinds of incidents, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention representatives at both brigade and battalion-levels coordinated multiple awareness events and activities in support of April’s national Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
“April is observed as the Sexual Assault Awareness Month and we decided to do different activities in support of it,” said Jamie Donaldson, the brigade SHARP victim advocate. “It was to foster awareness of the program among Soldiers and to show that we are out there.”
Through Lawson’s “Stand Up” initiative, the brigade began with a unit run to build cohesion and officially mark the start of the month-long series of SHARP events.
“The Stand Up program is a peer-to-peer program to encourage our Soldiers to stand up for each other,” explained Lawson. “For Soldiers, we encourage if they see something that doesn’t look right, to say something; to do something.”
Some events focused on promoting awareness of the SHARP program while others highlighted the importance of unit cohesion and team effort in combating sexual assaults and harassment.
“Sexual assault cannot be prevented with only one person being an active proponent,” said Donaldson. “It takes all of us to stand up, speak up when we see someone saying or doing something inappropriate and to support a person who has been a victim of an assault or harassment.”
Information tables were set up at several locations around Camp Casey including the Post Exchange, bowling alley, Troop Medical Clinic and other heavy-traffic areas for maximum campaign exposure and educational opportunities.
SHARP representatives also organized awareness events at the brigade’s dining facility to inform Soldiers about the ongoing events for the month and encourage participation.
Additionally, the brigade also conducted a scavenger hunt in conjunction with partner agencies on post to further instill the importance teamwork, trust and cohesion.
It was also a chance for Soldiers to better learn about the SHARP program and the available resources provided here at Camp Casey, said Spc. Yong Yang, a healthcare specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th FA Bde.,
“The hunt gave us a full picture of what we can do or where to go when we need help,” said Yang, a Knoxville, Tennessee native. “Racing as a team helped me work on teamwork with my battle buddies too.”
At the end of the month, a “Take Back the Night” march was held to build esprit de corps and remind Soldiers they are the force behind the SHARP fight.
Inspiration for the march drew from historical events dating back to the 1970s, when women in England protested against the violence they encountered as they walked the streets at night.
“The different events were organized to continue the awareness in SHARP and to show that we are out there for the Soldiers,” said Donaldson. “Overall, we’ve definitely come a long way from where we were last year,” said Donaldson.
“The fighting spirit, the fighting capability of the brigade, is not made by the machine or weapons, it’s made by the people.” said Lawson. “We have to make concerted efforts as leaders and as Soldiers to look out for each other.”
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2015 22:23 |
| Story ID: | 162514 |
| Location: | GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Hometown: | KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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