Photo By Pfc. Cecilia Ochoa | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Shane McCarty, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo.-- “When the World Trade Center attack happened, I was supposed to be in that building,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shane McCarty, the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Operations noncommissioned officer in charge for the 4th Infantry Division. “I woke up late and, on my way, there, the first tower hit, and I was on the Brooklyn Bridge on my way to the World Trade Center.”
McCarty, who was born in Jamaica but from New York, felt a sense of service after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Since joining the Army, McCarty has dedicated his service to the Soldiers and he does that by working with the SHARP program, advocating for victims of sexual trauma.
Today, McCarty is dedicated to helping Soldiers get the resources they need through SHARP.
“I have a care for Soldiers, and just victimology in all sense and aspects because that could be your brother, your sister, and it’s also a very dear thing to me because I have a daughter who was sexually abused,” said McCarty. “So, to see that and know that there are men and women in uniform who are undergoing that same type of trauma it’s why I'm interested and a victim advocate, which is what we do, make sure that they get services that they need for mental health if they need it.”
In addition, McCarty works to make sure those who want to be SHARP professionals are the right fit for the job and have completed the course, to ensure the best support for the victims.
“As operations manager I verify people's credentials. So, every two years SHARP professionals have to either go to the foundation course and recertify,” said McCarty. “As an operations person, I make sure that everybody across the division is credential.”
Although McCarty works at the Division level to help make the program better, he encourages everyone to be involved.
“I just think the awareness of it and getting other noncommissioned officers to be invested in the program, not just SHARP professionals, but we all have to be invested in the program, when it comes to this, we all have to be a part of it,” said McCarty. “Not just because you are a SHARP professional but you're a leader, you're in charge of Soldiers, so you should care about the program.”
In addition, McCarty works with a team to advocate for the victims, they share goals to better help.
“We all collectively care about SHARP. So that's how we bond because of that common interest and common purpose,” said Staff Sgt. Erika Scelsi the 759th Military Police Battalion Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and an intern for the 4th Infantry Division SHARP program. “We all share each other's thoughts, feelings and ways forward.”
McCarty will continue to educate on the importance of the SHARP program and helping soldiers get the resources they need. The 24-7 Sexual Assault Response Hotline is available at 719-338-9654 for anyone in need.
| Date Taken: | 10.12.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2023 14:00 |
| Story ID: | 455672 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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