ROBERTSON BARRACKS, Northern Territory, Australia – Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, visited Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, here, May 28.
His two-day visit consisted of speaking to Marines about the MRF-D initiative at a brief, touring surrounding Australian military facilities and eating lunch with sergeants and below.
During his brief, Glueck said many high-ranking people and government officials have a growing interest on the Marine presence here.
“You guys are in the spot light – like no other rifle company in the Marine Corps is right now,” Glueck explained. “People are watching. It’s not only the Marine Corps watching, it’s the Department of Defense. It’s high visibility.”
Even the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, had a personal message for the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, MRF-D.
“The commandant wants to say he’s very proud of Lima Company,” passed Glueck. “He knows you’re down here.”
Having a vast history with allies in the Pacific, the general hopes the Marine presence in Australia will build on an already-efficient crises response.
“It’s all about being forward deployed and being able to meet the crisis response like we did in Operation Tomodachi. We responded within 18 hours,” added Glueck. “They will never forget what the Marines brought to that area and how fast we responded.”
Gleuck said he has high hopes for the future rotations here.
“It’s Marines like you that get down there and work with our coalition partners that makes the difference,” he said. “Thank you for what you’re doing. There’s a bright future down here.”