Contingency Base Camp Operations and Management: Staffing and Organization

Abstract

Abstract : Since 2001, contingency operations in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) theater have established a large number of base camps, of various sizes. To manage base camps, the Army and other Services have commonly used the concept of establishing a Mayor Cell the functional equivalent of a garrison commander at a Continental United States (CONUS) installation. An adequately staffed Mayor Cell can effectively manage a base camp up to 10,000 personnel. Larger base camps or base clusters may require multiple Mayor Cells. However, over the past two decades, the US Forces organic base camp capabilities have diminished, i.e., our forces increasingly come to rely on costly contract support to supply essential functions and services. This circumstance, combined with insufficient or non-existent infrastructure, lack of trained or experienced personnel, and individual stove-piped systems, contributes to operational gaps that distract commanders from their primary mission: inefficient operations of base camps; and security, safety, environmental and health risks to deployed forces. This study was undertaken to address operations and management (O&M) requirements requisite for the effective administration and support of a contingency base camp.