Australian, U.S. forces work in cohesion supplying soldiers

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anne Henry | Soldiers with Delaware Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division resupply food and water during Talisman Saber 2013 July 22 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Talisman Saber strengthens the alliance between Australia and the U.S. by improving combat readiness and interoperability as a combined joint task force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry/RELEASED)  

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QLD, AUSTRALIA

07.22.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Anne Henry 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Australia - Australian Army and U.S. Army soldiers worked together to resupply units July 22 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Talisman Saber 2013.

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and the Australian Army 3rd Brigade made it their main priority to work together in order to resupply units with water and food throughout the exercise.

“Since seizing the airfield a few days ago, we have been expanding our battalion footprint in order to defeat our simulated enemy,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jonathan Rozack, a platoon leader with Delaware Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “In order to keep our stronghold, we must be able to resupply the companies with water and food.”

According to Rozack, it is critical for the soldiers with the regiment to receive supplies, especially palatable drinking water.

“The soldiers have not become acclimatized to Australia yet,” said Rozack. “Because they are not used to this heat, they have been running out of water extremely quickly. We have been conducting two resupply runs a day in order to keep them ready and able to carry on with their mission.”

Not only have soldiers with the regiment been conducting supply runs, members from the 3rd Australian Brigade have regularly supplied companies located in areas not accessible by road, according to Sgt. Maj. Mitchell L. Rucker, the command sergeant major of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

“Our partnership with the Australians throughout this exercise has been phenomenal,” said Rucker. “Not only have they been providing us with general support, they have also been utilizing their air assets to get water down to areas we cannot reach by road.”

Throughout the exercise, the soldiers have had to overcome many obstacles thrown at them, according to Rucker.

“The soldiers here have been performing exemplarily well,” said Rucker. “It has been amazing to watch the soldiers overcome all the obstacles in their way and take the fight to the simulated enemy.”

Throughout Talisman Saber, U.S. forces have been training in cohesion with Australian forces in order to strengthen not only the relationship between them, but also security in the Pacific region.

“With the shift of our armed forces to the Pacific region, our Australian partners are pivotal to our success,” said Rucker. “The U.S. and Australia share many similarities allowing us to smoothly train together and strengthen our relationship.”

• Date Taken: 07.22.2013
• Date Posted: 07.24.2013 01:22
• Story ID: 110680
• Location: SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QLD, AU