Talisman Sabre Open Day

Photo By OR-5 Mark Doran | (Left to right) Rockhampton's Pvt. Luke Samuels from the 10th Field Support Battalion meets his brother Nicholas and his father Wayne at Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 Open Day in Rockhampton. Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 has formally kicked off with a public Open Day at the Rockhampton Showground. The Open Day saw the 1RAR Band and Australian Federation Guard perform alongside the U.S. 7th Fleet Band, demonstrating the interoperability of the two military forces that Exercise Talisman Sabre aims to strengthen. The Open Day also showcased a wide array of static displays from Australian and U.S. participants as well as other Australian government agencies such as AusAID the Australian Federal Police, the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. More than 22,000 Australian and U.S. personnel will participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011, which will see personnel and assets from the Australian and U.S. Navy, Army and Air force as well as the U.S. Marines training in six defense training areas in Central and Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, with maritime forces exercising in the Coral, Timor and Arafura Seas.  

ROCKHAMPTON, QL, AUSTRALIA

07.12.2011

Story by Mark Doran 

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command         

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia - Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 kicked-off with an open day showcasing the U.S.-Australian partnership and was attended by almost 10,000 locals at the Rockhampton Showgrounds July 9.

Military assets on display included a Black Hawk, a Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and a RAN Sea King and a show of force was presented when an M1 Abrams from 1 Armed Regiment joined an ASLAV from 2 Cavalry Regiment and an M113 APC from 2/14 LHR Queensland Mounted Infantry.

The U.S. Marine Corps displayed their 81mm and 60mm mortar systems, an M-19 automatic grenade launcher and a Browning M-2 .50-caliber machine gun while 6RAR soldiers showed-off their infantry weapons and combat equipment.

Musicians from the 1RAR Band and the U.S. 7th Fleet Band entertained the locals with songs and music and the AFG impressed young and old with a dynamic static drill display.

Mayor of Rockhampton Brad Carter welcomed VIPs including the U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich, CJTF commander and commander of U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk and Deputy CJTF Commander Rear Adm. David Johnston RAN and acknowledged Talisman Sabre 2011 as a significant milestone in the development of the region.

“We are very fortunate to have the military here allowing us to view their equipment and listen to their music,” Carter said.

“The Rockhampton community values the importance of national security and will continue to support the ADF training in this region.”

Vice Adm. Van Buskirk said Talisman Sabre 2011 was the culmination of a lot of hard work and showed how much the two nations had in common with their shared goals and visions for stability and security throughout the region.

“The planning for TS11 has brought our teams together to work through many of the issues which are part of the execution of this type of exercise,” Van Buskirk said.

“The lessons learnt at the end of TS11 are what this is really all about – our nations have a tremendous relationship and we are now in the 60th year of the ANZUS Treaty.

“Australia has incredible ranges and manoeuvre space available and it is critical for our ground, maritime and air forces to be able to train and then execute in a real crisis whether it involves arms or peacekeeping.

“It is not just about Afghanistan and Iraq – there is ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief our nations conduct together throughout the years which are all based on the ability to communicate and the interoperability seen here is what achieves mission success.”

Rockhampton’s Pvt. Luke Samuels, 10FSB, was at the open day to display a Kalmar Container Handler which attracted a lot of attention and the event was also an ideal opportunity for a visit from his father Wayne Samuels and his brother Nicholas.

Samuels said he was very proud to see his son Luke in uniform.

“The open day was very interesting as this is the first time I have seen the helicopters up close and I have never seen anything like the machine Luke drives in my entire life – it is an amazing machine,” Mr Samuels said.

Cargo Specialist Pvt. Samuels is involved with 10FSB’s terminal operations in Townsville and said he had served with the Army for four years.

“I’ve worked in Sydney, Darwin and Townsville with the armed forces from other nations including the U.S. and this Open Day has been a great way to interact with member of the Rockhampton community,” Samuels said.

“During TS11 we have been based at DSG Camp Rocky providing support to the Australian and US troops loading and unloading cargo as well as providing support for the front-line troops at SWBT.
“We normally work a 12-hour shift, though the Kalmar and the operations have the ability to work on 24-hour cycles loading and unloading shipping containers.”

• Date Taken: 07.12.2011
• Date Posted: 07.12.2011 04:25
• Story ID: 73570
• Location: ROCKHAMPTON, QL, AU