People
are the Army’s number one priority – they are our greatest strength,
our most valuable asset, and our most important weapon system. Our
responsibility and enduring commitment is ensuring you have the right
leadership, policies, and resources so you can thrive in cohesive teams
that are trained, disciplined, and fit.
Over
the past year and a half, our Army embarked on an unprecedented review
of how we care for people. We have identified that structural changes
are needed in the Army’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and
Prevention (SHARP) program. In response, we are launching a pilot to
test a new approach to providing victim-centered care and services – the
Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault (SH/SA) Fusion Directorate. The Fusion
Directorates will prioritize victim care by integrating and
synchronizing multiple response functions, increasing transparency of
the sexual assault adjudication process, and providing an alternate
independent reporting process outside the immediate chain of command.
Starting
in October, Fusion Directorate pilots will be established at Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Schofield Barracks, and Forts Bragg, Irwin, Riley, and
Sill. Simultaneously, the Army Reserve will test a virtual Fusion
Directorate in the 99th Readiness Division. This pilot will inform
future decisions on enduring program changes, possible expansion of
Fusion Directorates to additional installations, and the building of a
similar capability in the Army National Guard.
Our
Army needs your help and support as we test this new approach to
improving our response and support to victims of sexual harassment and
sexual assault. We all have a responsibility to ensure Soldiers,
Civilians, and Family members feel comfortable raising allegations of
sexual harassment or sexual assault, know where and how to access
services, quickly receive care and protection, and are treated with
dignity and respect throughout the process. We also acknowledge the
great efforts that many units are taking to combat sexual harassment and
sexual assault. We look forward to learning more and incorporating best
practices where applicable.
This
and other efforts are nested with the Secretary of Defense 90-day
Independent Review Commission recommendations to address the harmful
behaviors of sexual harassment and sexual assault as well as other
corrosive conditions that impact the health of the force. We remain
steadfast in our commitment to care for our people and will continue to
implement innovative solutions that address the needs of our Soldiers,
Civilians, and Family members and preserve the trust of the American
people.
//SIGNED//
Michael A. Grinston
Sergeant Major of the Army
James C. McConville
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
Christine E. Wormuth
Secretary of the Army