Brig. Gen. Mark R. Stammer, then senior commander for the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, discusses policy and prevention during a press conference June 6 2013 regarding the installation’s participation in the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program. “Sexual harassment and sexual assault are inconsistent with Army values and are not going to be tolerated here at Fort Campbell,” he said.
The Pentagon announced it’s general officer assignments today.
Among those being promoted within the ranks of the U.S. Army was Brig. Gen. Mark R. Stammer – pegged as new deputy commanding general of the famed 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.
The 101st Airborne Division—the “Screaming Eagles”—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for complex air assault operations.
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) was the first “conventional unit” to deploy in support of the American War on Terrorism – Operation Enduring Freedom- America’s longest, most expensive war in modern history.
Stammer’s service awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Bronze Star Medal, with V device; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Army Meritorious Service Medal, with four oak leaf clusters; Air Medal, with V Device; Army Commendation Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal, with three oak leaf clusters; and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
Stammer has also earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, The Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and Venezuelan, Italian, German Parachutist Badges. He has been honored with the Order of Saint Maurice Centurion Medallion, the Order of Saint George Bronze Medallion, and the Order of Saint Barbara.
An extensive internet search didn’t reveal any real “character or leadership flaws” with the Brigadier General – at least that I could find.
Off record the Brig. General is noted to be sometimes “brash and rude” in his behavior and treatment of lower enlisted ranks in his units, who he doesn’t really seem to respect that much. But we found no real evidence of abuse as such.
His punishments of lower ranks do at times seems harsh – it really doesn’t vary from the norms of other senior officers in the military who generally speaking consider themselves superior to most everybody in the military , especially non comms.
One PFC (who refused to go on record with his name out of intense fear of being punished by superiors at Ft. Campbell) said he can Stammer can be a real “ass” at times, especially critical during inspections and such. But that soldier also admitted “most officer ranks at Ft. Campbell are.”
The Brigadier General has also been criticized by some for “not going far enough to condemn and punish officer ranks for sexual assaults against female ranks, including lower enlisted ranks” who are particularly vulnerable to predators within the military – of all ranks, especially the officer core – but we found no real evidence of any abuse in that regard.
In fact we found the opposite in so far as his public statements and directions to unit commanders is “a zero tolerance policy”. According to one report he stated “Sexual harassment and sexual assault are inconsistent with Army values and are not going to be tolerated here at Fort Campbell” (source: Stammer talks SHARP, Fort Campbell’s role http://www.army.mil/article/104958/Stammer_talks_SHARP__Fort_Campbell_s_role/).
we also looked into some scattering of reports that indicates the Brigadier General likes to sometime drink alcohol socially – but we could not find any reports he ever was convicted or accused of serious offenses like DUI (Drunk Under the Influence).
We should note also that drinking alcohol and booze is socially acceptable within the officer ranks as well the enlisted ranks at Ft. Campbell – which admittedly has a huge problem in regard to soldiers drinking alcohol and causing trouble in surrounding communities at local eateries and at local “tittie bars” and night clubs frequented by Ft. Campbell soldiers on off duty hours.
In looking at all this with a very critical eye for any (and all) indications of problems – its hard top see really how the 101st could do any better than Brigadier General Stammer. They certainly could have done worse.
With that being said we will continue to keep a sharp eye on this particular military commander by monitoring various social networking sites of military members at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky going forward to insure he is acting properly and “above board” in all his doings while assuming command of this illustrious combat unit.
We also wish to thank those soldiers who did “come forward to talk to us” about the Brigadier General Stammer and wish to assure them that we will respect their rights to remain anonymous in all this – so they don’t get into trouble with their superiors at Ft. Campbell.
We have also deleted all notes and references containing the names, units and email addresses of soldiers we contacted in connection with this unofficial investigation of Brigadier General Stammer.