Photo By Staff Sgt. Daniel Schroeder | I Corps Soldiers take a picture of a wombat at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at Fig...... read more read more
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FIG TREE POCKET, Australia – Most Americans only get to see Australian wildlife in their local zoos. But for approximately 50 I Corps Soldiers here for Talisman Sabre 15, the opportunity to experience this wildlife up close and personal was too good to pass up.
These Soldiers traveled to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary July 6 to see kangaroos and koalas.
Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise, consisting of U.S. and Australian forces with a contingent of 30,000 participants. I Corps is using Talisman Sabre as a certification exercise to validate as a Combined Forces Land Component Command.
“We hit the ground running,” said Sgt. Zacherious Fulton, a civil affairs sergeant with 364th Civil Affairs Brigade working with I Corps for Talisman Sabre 15. “It was a fast pace to get stuff accomplished and ready for the exercise. The command allotted for enough time to send us on this trip to see the sights and experience the culture.”
Sgt. Samantha Wilson, an image analyst with Company B, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps, also signed up to explore the sanctuary.
“It was really fun to see what type of sanctuary they had, how they saved the animals and fund the sanctuary,” she said. “A lot of the proceeds go towards taking care of the facility and animals.”
After entering the sanctuary, Wilson met some attention-loving birds before making her way down the paths taking in all the Aussie wildlife.
“These are animals that are only in Australia, the Tasmanian devil, wombats, koalas, and kangaroos,” said Wilson. “The trip kept getting better the further into the sanctuary I got.”
Shortly after the Tasmanian devils and wombats, Wilson encountered a hut where she could hold a koala.
“My first thought was, ‘I get to hold a koala,’” Wilson exclaimed. “It was better when the koala cuddled with me for the picture.”
The next attraction the I Corps Soldiers gravitated to was the kangaroo habitat. This habitat allowed wallabies, emus and kangaroos to roam freely together with each other and people.
“Everyone has their favorite exhibits from the trip, and mine was the kangaroos,” said Fulton. “How often do you see a kangaroo, let alone feed them, in the US? It was also interesting holding a koala, but interacting with the kangaroos was my favorite part.”
“(The kangaroos) didn’t mind us coming up to them, touching and feeding them,” Wilson added. “My favorite part was seeing the animals, interacting with them and just being out having fun with my co-workers and friends.”
Just a couple days in Australia and a visit to a koala sanctuary, Wilson and Fulton said they were both more ready to begin the exercise with a rejuvenated energy.
“Being away from the stress of work and exploring the new culture is a great way to relax before going back to work,” Wilson said. “You are in a different country and might not be again. Go experience the culture.”
| Date Taken: | 07.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2015 01:24 |
| Story ID: | 169215 |
| Location: | FIG TREE POCKET, QLD, AU |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, I Corps Soldiers experience Australian culture, by SSG Daniel Schroeder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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