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    Environmental assists in keeping training area operational

    Enviornmental assists in keeping training area operational

    Courtesy Photo | Austrailian Army Capt. Lachlan Crawford, Enviromental Team Group team member, marks...... read more read more

    SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QL, AUSTRALIA

    07.15.2009

    Courtesy Story

    U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

    SHOALWATER BAY TRAING AREA, Australia — The Environmental Management Group of Exercise Talisman Saber 2009 prepared for the amphibious landings of both the U.S and Australian military forces at Shoalwater Bay training area, July 13.

    The EMG is responsible for making sure all of Australia's natural surroundings in the training areas are restored and protected during the biennial combined training activity.

    "We mostly concentrate on anything that is moved during the exercise," said Staff Sgt. Dion Zamora, EMG team. "If any harm or damage is done to the area, it's our responsibility to document and restore that area."

    Many areas throughout the training area are marked with no entry signs. These signs are placed to prevent entry to damaged forest areas and give the areas time to re-grow and flourish. Efforts of the EMG also prevent excessive damage to some of Australia's most sacred grounds and burial sites.

    "These preventive measures allow the two forces to continually train in the area, in one of the best amphibious training areas on the planet," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Hernandez, EMG team member. "We want this land for Marine and Australian forces to train together for time to come."

    EMG performs daily patrols of the training area, which consist of taking photos of the damaged areas and inserting them into a global positioning system. Logging the situations helps keep track of any incidents. In the case of mass damage, the team reports the situation to the Marine Environmental Liaison.

    Australian Army Capt. Lachlan Crawford said he enjoys working with the U.S forces and feels it helps with any communication barriers the team may run into.

    "I learn a lot from the Americans," Crawford said. "We make a good team and I hope the relationship stays strong to keep the training area in continual use and bring forth larger exercises."

    Exercise Talisman Saber 2009 is a biennial combined training activity, designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations, which will help improve ADF/ US combat readiness and inter-operability. This exercise is a major undertaking which reflects the closeness of our alliance and the strength of the military-military relationship.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.15.2009
    Date Posted: 07.16.2009 10:21
    Story ID: 36443
    Location: SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QL, AU

    Web Views: 354
    Downloads: 328

    PUBLIC DOMAIN