After completing quarantine for Covid-19, approximately 1,200 U.S. Marines attached to the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) have been given a clean bill of health and begun training with the Australian Defense Force (ADF) in the tropical Northern Territory. While in Australia, the U.S. Marines also train with other regional partners.
The MRF-D consists of a contingent of U.S. Marines and their equipment rotate through Northern Australia during the summer dry season, completing combined exercises and training with the ADF.
According to Defense Connect:
The MRF-D has grown in size and complexity since the first rotation of 200 US Marines through Darwin in 2012, to reaching the milestone of 2,500 Marines in 2019. It is now a highly capable force that provides significant opportunities to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force.
This year’s rotation, which will continue through September, has been modified with strict measures in place to mitigate the risks of Covid. It is also smaller than recent rotations. The Marine Corps Times reported that “the Northern Territory was declared coronavirus free almost two weeks ago, but its borders remain closed to non-essential travel.”
Allowing the annual training during Covid was a big deal for Australia, but according to Defense Connect, Australian “Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds CSC said the release of the last U.S. Marines from quarantine marked a significant milestone for this year’s MRF-D rotation.”
Minister Reynolds added how smoothly the screening and quarantine process had been:
With one positive result captured at initial entry and no further infections, the successful management of the arrival of the US Marines reflects the efforts and planning by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Northern Territory government and MRF-D.
The MRF-D’s composition varies annually depending on the training and other activities planned with the ADF and regional partners each year. This year reported Defense Connect, the “Marines have been undertaking a modified training program at various Defence training facilities around the greater Darwin area, including Mount Bundey and Kangaroo Flats.”
Colonel David Banning, Commanding Officer, MRF-D said, “As we progress in our training, we will demonstrate our crisis response capability and continue to improve interoperability through our long-standing exercise, Koolendong,” reported Defense Connect.
The U.S.-Australian defense bond remains strong – even during a pandemic.
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If an Aussie has the time and means while out fishing drop flowers over the USS Lexington in the Coral Sea. That ship was the first Aircraft Carrier lost in Pacific at the start of WWII, but not lost to memory.
GPS COORDINATES OF USS LEXINGTON (CV-2)
https://latitude.to/articles-by-country/general/2547/uss-lexington-cv-2
Allies forever!
Thx!
Probably one of the two most supportive countries and friends the US has in the Southern Pacific, along with New Zealand.
The Aussies sacrifice in the Western Desert of North Africa helped drive the Panzer Army out of the Southern Mediterranean and made possible the succesful invasion of Sicily.