What SHARP Is and Who It Serves

SHARP stands for Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention. It is an Army program that provides confidential reporting options, investigation support, and victim services for soldiers who experience sexual harassment, sexual assault, or related crimes. The program exists in every Army installation and unit, and soldiers can use it whether they are active duty, Reserve, or National Guard.

SHARP is not a criminal investigation office — it is a support and reporting channel. When a soldier reports through SHARP, they can choose between restricted reporting (confidential, used mainly to get medical and counseling services) or unrestricted reporting (which triggers a formal investigation). Understanding the difference between these two paths is the most important decision a soldier makes when they first reach out.

Key Takeaways

  • SHARP offers two reporting paths: restricted (confidential, no investigation unless you request it) and unrestricted (triggers formal investigation and command notification).
  • Restricted reports let you receive medical care, counseling, and forensic evidence collection without starting an investigation or notifying your chain of command.
  • Every Army installation has a SHARP office staffed by trained victim advocates who can explain your options and walk you through the process.
  • You can report to SHARP, your chain of command, military police, or a hospital emergency room — each path has different consequences for investigation and confidentiality.
  • SHARP covers sexual harassment, sexual assault, and related offenses; the program also handles retaliation complaints if someone punishes you for reporting.

Restricted Reporting: What Stays Confidential

A restricted report means you tell SHARP what happened, but SHARP does not automatically tell your commander or start a criminal investigation. This path exists so soldiers can get medical help, counseling, and forensic evidence collection without fear that reporting will when ready change their duty status or unit assignment.

When you make a restricted report, the SHARP victim advocate documents what you say, but that documentation stays within SHARP and medical channels. Your chain of command does not find out unless you later decide to convert to an unrestricted report, or unless SHARP determines there is an when ready threat to others (a very narrow exception). You can still receive a sexual assault forensic exam, STI testing, pregnancy prevention, and mental health counseling — all without triggering an investigation.

The trade-off is that no one investigates the incident while it remains restricted. If you later want an investigation, you can convert your report to unrestricted at any time, and SHARP will help you do that. Some soldiers use restricted reporting first to stabilize and get counseling, then move to unrestricted reporting weeks or months later when they are ready.

Unrestricted Reporting: How Investigation Begins

An unrestricted report means SHARP tells your chain of command and military police. From that point, a formal investigation normally begins, and your commander is notified of the allegation. This path is appropriate when you want the incident investigated and potentially prosecuted, and you are ready for your unit to know what happened.

When you report unrestricted, SHARP still assigns you a victim advocate who stays with you throughout the investigation and any legal proceedings. You do not have to be present for interviews, and the advocate can help you understand what investigators are doing and what happens next. Military police or Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) will take your statement, collect evidence, and interview witnesses.

Unrestricted reporting does not may provide prosecution — that decision rests with the prosecutor (called a Staff Judge Advocate or SJA). But it does may provide that the incident is formally documented and investigated. Your commander may also take administrative action (such as reassignment or removal from a position) even if criminal charges do not move forward.

How to Report and Where to Find SHARP

Every Army installation has a SHARP office. You can find the phone number and location by asking your unit's SHARP representative, calling your installation's main number and asking for SHARP, or searching online for "[your installation name] SHARP office." SHARP staff are available during business hours and many installations have after-hours hotlines.

You can also report to a hospital emergency room (which will contact SHARP and offer you the choice of restricted or unrestricted), to your chain of command directly, or to military police. However, reporting to your commander or police automatically makes it unrestricted — there is no confidentiality at those points. Reporting directly to SHARP first gives you the option to choose restricted reporting before anyone else is notified.

When you contact SHARP, tell them you want to report an incident and ask whether you want restricted or unrestricted reporting. A victim advocate will meet with you (in person or by phone), listen to what happened, explain your options, and help you understand what comes next. You do not need to have all the details memorized or in writing — the advocate will help you organize what you remember.

What Happens After You Report

If you report restricted, SHARP schedules you for a medical exam if you want one, connects you with a counselor or therapist, and documents your report. You receive a case number and a victim advocate assigned to your case. Your advocate checks in with you regularly and helps you access services. No investigation happens unless you convert to unrestricted.

If you report unrestricted, SHARP notifies your chain of command and military police within 24 hours. An investigator will contact you to schedule an interview. During that interview, you will describe what happened, and the investigator will ask detailed questions. You can have your SHARP advocate present during the interview. After your statement, investigators will collect evidence, interview witnesses, and build a case file.

Investigation timelines vary. straightforward cases may close in a few weeks; complex cases with multiple witnesses can take months. Your victim advocate will update you on progress and explain what is happening at each stage. If the case moves toward prosecution, you may be asked to testify, and your advocate will prepare you for that.

Retaliation Protection and Your Rights

Army regulation prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports sexual harassment or assault. Retaliation means your commander or coworkers punishing you, reassigning you to a worse job, giving you a negative evaluation, or treating you differently because you reported. If retaliation happens, SHARP can file a separate retaliation complaint on your behalf.

You also have the right to request reassignment away from the person accused, to change your work schedule, or to be moved to a different unit — SHARP can advocate for these changes with your commander. You have the right to know the outcome of an investigation (though some details may be withheld if the case is still under review). You have the right to a victim advocate throughout the process, at no cost to you.

If you are concerned about retaliation, tell your SHARP advocate when ready. They can document the concern and work with your chain of command to prevent it. Many installations also have an Inspector General (IG) office that investigates retaliation complaints independently.

Understanding Confidentiality Limits

SHARP keeps restricted reports confidential except in very specific situations. If SHARP learns that someone is in when ready danger of serious harm, or if a child is being abused, SHARP may report to law enforcement or child protective services without your permission. These exceptions are rare and exist to prevent serious injury or death.

Unrestricted reports are not confidential — your chain of command and investigators will know. However, the details of your report are not posted on a bulletin board or shared with your entire unit. Your commander, the investigator, and a few others directly involved in the case will know. Medical and counseling records stay private under federal law (HIPAA), even in unrestricted cases.

If you are worried about privacy, ask your SHARP advocate what information will be shared and with whom. They can explain exactly who will know what, so you can make an informed decision about whether to report restricted or unrestricted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I report SHARP anonymously?

No, SHARP needs to know who you are in order to provide services and support. However, if you report restricted, only SHARP and medical staff know your identity — your chain of command does not. If you want to report completely anonymously, you can call a military sexual assault hotline to talk through your options, but you cannot receive SHARP services without identifying yourself.

What if the person I want to report is my commander?

You can still report to SHARP, and SHARP will handle it appropriately. If you report unrestricted, SHARP will notify someone above your commander (usually the next level up). You can also report to the Inspector General or to military police directly. SHARP will help you figure out the best path given your situation.

Does reporting to SHARP affect my security clearance?

Reporting sexual harassment or assault does not automatically affect your clearance. However, if the investigation uncovers other issues (such as drug use or dishonesty during the investigation), those could affect your clearance. Being a victim of sexual assault is not a clearance disqualifier.

What if I am not sure whether what happened counts as sexual assault?

Call SHARP and describe what happened — the advocate will help you figure out whether it falls under SHARP's scope. SHARP covers sexual harassment (unwanted comments, touching, or advances), sexual assault (forced sexual contact), and related crimes. If you are unsure, talking to an advocate costs nothing and does not commit you to reporting.

Can I report something that happened a long time ago?

Yes. There is no time limit for reporting to SHARP or for seeking counseling and support. However, criminal prosecution has time limits (called statutes of limitations) that vary by the type of offense and by state law. SHARP can tell you whether a case from the past can still be investigated criminally, but the main point is that you can access SHARP services whenever you are ready.