Nicole June Reporting
njune@clarksvillenow.com
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Reports of sexual assault and harassment cases in the military have been driven to the forefront of the public’s attention in recent months, and leaders at Fort Campbell addressed the issue Thursday, June 6.
Senior Commander Brigadier General Mark Stammer of the 101st and a panel of experts gathered to discuss methods of prevention, education, and justice as they endeavor to “rebuild the bonds of trust.”
This week marks a focus on a program titled SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention), which Gen. Stammer said will place a weightier responsibility on the chain of command to act accordingly when dealing with sexual allegations.
“Regardless of the avenue of approach for how the complaint is received, commanders and criminal investigators have a responsibility to act and investigate thoroughly,” he said.
Denise Lyons, Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Provider, believes the recent spike in sexual assault/harassment complaints are a direct result of an increased comfort level among the ranks in coming forward.
“You shouldn’t feel reluctant to come forth with a complaint against anyone who has done wrong to you,” Stammer said. “It’s an egregious crime. It doesn’t matter who the perpetrator is or who the victim is. It matters that a crime was committed and that you should feel comfortable coming forth without any feelings of retribution or any stigma attached,” he said of those who may fear being ostracized when filing a complaint.
The Senior Commander sees the problem as a conglomeration of isolated cases, not a shared culture of the military as a whole. “It’s criminal conduct that has been allowed or tolerated to a certain degree. We shouldn’t tolerate it and we shouldn’t have to tolerate it. Those who commit these crimes are acting outside our values and outside the law. They are criminals,” he said. Stammer wishes to hold those who break the law and their leaders accountable.
Part of Stammer’s plan for accountability means giving investigative charge to commanders. He said all problems should be taken through a first line supervisor, unless the victim chooses to speak to someone on a higher level. “If the assault occurs in military jurisdiction, I prefer it to stay there. I have absolute trust, faith, and confidence in the chain of command and our judges that they will address these issues fairly and timely,” Gen. Stammer said. He said the commander is fully equipped with the tools and skills to investigate.
“The commander, at whatever level, is the leader of that organization. He is singularly responsible for whatever that organization does or fails to do. Not a prosecutor, not someone on the periphery, not a staff adviser, him and him alone… The commander has to remain the central role in this process. I want him in that role because I am going to hold him personally accountable for doing his job. He is not going to have an excuse.”
Stammer said failing to follow this chain of command when dealing with these cases can be harmful to the integrity, capability, and discipline of a unit.
Leadership capabilities were called into question by the public when the former manager of SHARP, Lt. Col. Darin Haas, was arrested in May of this year for violation of an order of protection his ex-wife had filed against him. Stammer stressed the case is a civil matter that occurred off-post and is unrelated to SHARP and its efforts. He said Haas was already in the process of retirement at the time of the incident, and many of the reports were not entirely factual, which created a negative perception of the program.
“The timing of this incident was unfortunate for the Ft. Campbell community. Our SHARP program is strong, it is resilient, it’s providing great services and support to our families and our soldiers,” Stammer said. “He (Haas) rotated out of the position, we have a new guy, and we’re moving forward.”
Senior Division Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Herndon said Haas and all other leaders are subject to extensive background checks prior to being placed in a position of authority. “Leaders have background checks that are long, arduous, and continual. It’s not a perfect world, but we have a myriad of places they check, not just in law enforcement,” he said.
Cordale Hutchinson, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, said anyone trained in the SHARP program must pass an 80-hour certification course, background checks, and a clearance of credentials through NOVA (National Organization for Victims’ Advocacy).
Stammer said SHARP will continue to improve its efforts to prevent sexual violence. “We may not have been doing as well as we should have. This week provides us an opportunity to refocus on what is most important in any military organization, and that’s a trained, disciplined and fit organization. These crimes are indicative of an undisciplined act, a criminal act, by very few in our formation. We are going to stretch ourselves very hard this week with the goal of improving the safety and security of our community.”