Interview with Sgm (P) Stephen Kammerdiener

Sergeant Major (P) Stephen Kammerdiener deployed from February 2003 until October 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the sergeant major of the 326th Engineer Battalion. That battalion supported the 101st Airborne Division during the initial entry into Baghdad and subsequently into Mosul. In this interview, he identifies two significant challenges as being repair parts for equipment on the operational side and then quality of life improvements for the soldiers. He mentions that their best chain for repair parts consisted of calling back to Fort Campbell and having a deploying soldier bring the repair parts in his rucksack. Kammerdiener discusses his interaction with Reserve soldiers as positive in that they are very technically skilled, but tactically not better Regular Army soldiers. Most were older, and a significant concern was ensuring they did not become heat casualties. Another challenge was getting the Reserve soldiers to understand how long they were going to be deployed. He describes this effort as a “significant emotional event.” Then Major General David Petraeus’ reconstruction foresight is identified here, as well as details concerning the attempted capture of Uday and Qusay Hussein. Reconstruction is discussed throughout the interview with repeated emphasis on a more rapid process for the provisioning of money for projects. Although the information operations campaign indicated, “Every soldier is a sensor” the soldiers were challenged to embrace it. Towards the end of the interview, Kammerdiener shares his perspective on the Army’s current transformation effort. This is the third transformation he has witnessed during his 28 years of service.