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ROBERTSON BARRACKS, Australia — Conflicts are filled with ever-changing variables which can annihilate the best of plans, but practice has proven to be the best counter to disrupting factors.
On July 12, the U.S. military forces paired with their allies and partners, the Australian Defence Force, in command and control training known as a command post exercise. The exercise is part the sixth iteration of Talisman Sabre 15.
“The intent is to be a coalition force, a combined force, but the only way to know if you can work together is by working together,” said Capt. Gordon Koenig, a deputy current operations officer with the Combined Task Force 660 and the Australian Army.
This military training exercise is for future contingency operations focusing on the combat readiness of a combined task force.
“The combined task force staff comes together and goes through a set of problems to exercise the different functions within the staff,” said Maj. Rogelio S. Oregon, a liaison officer with CTF-660, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
The task force faces a realistic scenario testing the cohesion of the different militaries and their branches. It requires complex planning and execution to include military operations at sea, in the air and ashore.
“It’s all simulated,” said Oregon, from Los Angeles. “We can represent how we would actually get information and track it as if it was a real event.”
Oregon said they execute everything from the initial order, to the planning, then the preparation and finally the execution of the plan.
Talisman Sabre allows U.S. forces to conduct operations in a combined, joint, and interagency environment with the Australian Defence Force. It is designed to increase both countries’ ability to plan and execute contingency responses from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.
“The benefits for both nations are learning how the other person operates,” said Oregon. “We are gaining efficiencies from what they do well and what they don’t do so well. They learn those lessons just like we do – what we do well, and what we don’t do so well.”
Working together in this challenging exercise builds and strengthens the already strong bond and alliance between the U.S. and Australian militaries.
“To actually see and participate in exercise Talisman Sabre brings a lot of security and confidence to the nation. That you are there for us if we ever may need it to help defend the nation,” said Koenig. “I’m thoroughly enjoying my experience being here and working with (the Marines).”
Talisman Sabre is a biennial training exercise to improve readiness, interoperability and combat training of the U.S. and Australian military forces. The exercise consists of an integrated Field Training Exercise and a Command Post Exercise taking place July 8-17.
“Australians have been our allies for a very long time and we are certainly trying to make sure we continue that good partnership by actually integrating them into a combined staff,” said Oregon.
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.11.2015 08:00 |
| Story ID: | 169609 |
| Location: | NT, AU |
| Web Views: | 166 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Realistic scenario challenges U.S. and Australian forces, by Sgt Mandaline Hatch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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