Unsung Heroes: Mayor's Cell

Photo By Sgt. Daniel Lucas | 150717-A-FB257-001.jpg - U.S. Army Spc. Joshua Miller, Mayor's Cell, Signal Intelligence and Sustainment Company, First Corps, drives a van as part of the round-the-clock support for Talisman Saber 17 Command Post Exercise at near Enoggera, Australia.  Nearly 40 U.S. and Australian service members arrange and provide food and lodging, transportation, medical for the more than 700 U.S. and Australian personnel. "It's a great and unique experience," said Miller. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Daniel Lucas, 203rd Public Affairs Detachment)  

ENOGGERA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

07.19.2017

Story by Sgt. Daniel Lucas 

I Corps

ENOGGERA, Australia – More than 700 service members representing both the U.S and Australia participated in the command post exercise portion of Talisman Saber 17. While colonels and generals manage the fictional warfighting portion, a small team of U.S. and Australian service members handle the logistics of food, housing, transportation and anything else the exercise may need to be a success.

“We are the life support of the operation,” said U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Rocky Duran, Mayor's Cell noncommissioned officer in charge, Signal Intelligence and Sustainment Co., First Corps. “We make sure the ones out there fighting have what they need to be successful.”

The Mayor's Cell runs 24-hour operations with a team of nearly 40 U.S. and Australian service members covering everything from travel to bedding. These service members handle picking up hot meals from the dining facility, constantly circling the base with five vans to transport everyone to where they need to be and handling the billeting for more than half of the U.S. and Australian service members. Even when these service members are not on the move, they provide an on-call rotation to ensure no detail gets left behind.

“We provide pretty much all of the services for the exercise to the best of our ability,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Ramos, Mayor's Cell operations NCO, SIS Co., First Corps. “Drivers, fuel, supplies, anything we can do to keep the mission running, we do.” U.S. Army Spc. Henoch Gassner, Mayor's Cell, SIS Co., First Corps, added that the work was great because it allows them to see a larger picture.

That larger picture includes more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and the Australian Defense Headquarters across more than 17 locations across the globe.

This was the first time most U.S. service members in the Mayor's Cell have been to Australia. With the cooperation with the Australian Defense Force, it has been a smooth transition to the land down under.
“This was my first time here,” said U.S. Army Sgt. John Rawls, Mayor's cell, SIS Co., First Corps. “Working at the mayor’s cell keeps you busy, but the Australians are very helpful. They will stop what they are doing to help me out.”

“Often times, leadership gets credit,” said Duran. “ If it wasn't for the soldiers working so hard supporting 700 personnel from different services and countries with limited soldiers, Everything wouldn't be as good as it is.”

“What we are doing is great,” said Australian Army Pvt. Rutul Patel, Mayor’s Cell, 7th Combat Service Support Battalion, 7th Brigade. “We are seeing the future. With everything going on around the world, the most important and valuable thing we can do is be prepared.”

• Date Taken: 07.19.2017
• Date Posted: 07.22.2017 20:43
• Story ID: 241677
• Location: ENOGGERA, QUEENSLAND, AU