News Stories Archive

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dantrel Gandy, a Low Altitude Air Defense gunner with Alpha Battery, 2nd LAAD Platoon, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron – 363 (Reinforced), with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, observes a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launch during Exercise Loobye at Bradshaw Field Training Area, NT, Australia, Aug. 12, 2021. The HIMARS launched as part of the final act of Exercise Loobye to demonstrate MRF-D’s ability to conduct HIMARS Rapid Infiltration. Exercises like Loobye demonstrate MRF-D’s ability to conduct operations as a joint force with the ADF, execute expeditionary operations, like HIRAIN, and exemplify their mutual dedication to being postured and ready to respond to a crisis or contingency in the Indo-Pacific region. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dantrel Gandy, a Low Altitude Air Defense gunner with Alpha Battery, 2nd LAAD Platoon, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron – 363 (Reinforced), with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, observes a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launch during Exercise Loobye at Bradshaw Field Training Area, NT, Australia, Aug. 12, 2021. The HIMARS launched as part of the final act of Exercise Loobye to demonstrate MRF-D’s ability to conduct HIMARS Rapid Infiltration. Exercises like Loobye demonstrate MRF-D’s ability to conduct operations as a joint force with the ADF, execute expeditionary operations, like HIRAIN, and exemplify their mutual dedication to being postured and ready to respond to a crisis or contingency in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australian Army Engineer Tyson Buckley and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Deitrick McMahon, a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, build a barbed wire fence during exercise Crocodile Response at Point Fawcett, NT, Australia, May 25, 2021. Exercise Crocodile Response tested the ability of MRF-D and the Australian Defence Force to provide disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords a combined training opportunity with Australia and improves cooperation and integration between the two country’s forces. - Australian Army Engineer Tyson Buckley and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Deitrick McMahon, a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, build a barbed wire fence during exercise Crocodile Response at Point Fawcett, NT, Australia, May 25, 2021. Exercise Crocodile Response tested the ability of MRF-D and the Australian Defence Force to provide disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords a combined training opportunity with Australia and improves cooperation and integration between the two country’s forces.

From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12. - From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12.

An Australian Army soldier wears the Exercise Kowari 2015 patch after the exercise’s closing ceremony Sept. 12 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, Sept. 16, 2015. In its second iteration, Kowari 15 was a trilateral environmental survival training opportunity hosted by Australia and included forces from the U.S., Australia and China simultaneously. - An Australian Army soldier wears the Exercise Kowari 2015 patch after the exercise’s closing ceremony Sept. 12 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, Sept. 16, 2015. In its second iteration, Kowari 15 was a trilateral environmental survival training opportunity hosted by Australia and included forces from the U.S., Australia and China simultaneously.

U.S. Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, participate in a conditioning hike during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2015 June 14 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 was a combined training opportunity for the Marines with their Australian allies that helped to improve interoperability between the two forces. The U.S. Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Forces are committed to continuing their tradition of more than 100 years of global partnership and security cooperation between Australia and the United States of America. - U.S. Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, participate in a conditioning hike during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2015 June 14 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 was a combined training opportunity for the Marines with their Australian allies that helped to improve interoperability between the two forces. The U.S. Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Forces are committed to continuing their tradition of more than 100 years of global partnership and security cooperation between Australia and the United States of America.

Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, commence Exercise Southern Jackaroo with soldiers with Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 3 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 is a bilateral training exercise between soldiers from Company A, 3RAR, and the Marines with MRF-D. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Australia affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces. - Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, commence Exercise Southern Jackaroo with soldiers with Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 3 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 is a bilateral training exercise between soldiers from Company A, 3RAR, and the Marines with MRF-D. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Australia affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces.

Lance Corporal Brandon Renteria fires simulation rounds from a M32A1 multi-shot grenade launcher during a live-fire training event alongside Australian soldiers with 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 15 at Kangaroo Flats Training Area, Victoria, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Australian soldiers brushed up on squad attack tactics, basic point man skills and explosives to refine basic infantry skills. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces. Renteria is a rifleman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MRF-D. - Lance Corporal Brandon Renteria fires simulation rounds from a M32A1 multi-shot grenade launcher during a live-fire training event alongside Australian soldiers with 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 15 at Kangaroo Flats Training Area, Victoria, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Australian soldiers brushed up on squad attack tactics, basic point man skills and explosives to refine basic infantry skills. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces. Renteria is a rifleman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MRF-D.