Course Descriptions

SARC/VA Career Course:

The Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) and Victim Advocate (VA) Career Course is for individuals who are filling fulltime SARC and VA positions. The SARC and VA have the responsibility of providing SHARP services to their commands in accordance with National Defense Authorization Act 2012, Department of Defense (DOD) and Army guidance. The SHARP Career course is a six week course, designed to meet DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office’s core competencies and prepare individuals to effectively respond to sexual harassment complaints and victims of sexual assault.

To become a certified SARC or VA Specialist, candidates must complete the SHARP Career Course, which has been approved by the National Advocate Credentialing Program® (NACP), a program of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA).

SHARP Trainer Course:

The SHARP trainer course is a four week follow-on course that will prepare individuals to serve as SHARP trainers. SHARP trainers will serve as instructors for the SHARP Foundation course for units. The SHARP Foundation Course is for individuals who are filling permanent and collateral duty SHARP positions in support of the SHARP program. The trainers will also assist the commands with executing their SHARP annual unit refresher training and present SHARP senior leader briefs (SLB) as required/needed.

SHARP Foundation Course:

The SHARP Foundation Course (80-hour certification) provides instruction for military and civilian collateral duty SARC and VA at the battalion level and below. Contact your Senior Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) if you are interested in knowing more about the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Foundation course.

Special Information:

All students are to meet selection criteria stated in the SHARP ALARACT 147-2013, and in accordance with AR 600-20, Chapter 8-5, paragraph O (11) and Chapter 8-6, paragraph I. Individuals attending this training must (1) have a favorable criminal background check and National Sex Offender Registry check; (2) meet rank requirements – SARC/SHARP Specialists: must be an NCO (SFC or higher), Officer (MAJ/CW3 or higher), or Civilian (GS-11 or higher). The VA/SHARP Specialists must be a NCO (SSG or higher), Officer (1LT/CW2 or higher), or Civilian (GS-09 or higher) and (3) individuals, with exception of Collateral Duty VA, must be appointed on orders: SARC appointed by general officer; VA appointed by O-6 or higher.

NOTE: Requests for exception to grade-level requirements for individual students must be processed through ACOMs, DRUs and ASCC [e.g., FORSCOM, TRADOC, AMC, IMCOM, MEDCOM, etc.] to HQDA SHARP Program Office for approval at least two weeks prior to the start of class in order to attend. ACOM/ASCC/DRUs may submit a blanket request for exception to grade-level requirements.

Program Manager Course:

The SHARP Program Manager Course is a two week course, designed to develop SHARP Program Manager’s leadership abilities, enhance knowledge, skills and capabilities, capture and share best practices, conduct peer-to-peer learning, and become efficient with budgetary practices, presentations and managerial organization.