I Corps, Australian Army wrap up Talisman Sabre 15

Photo By Staff Sgt. Daniel Schroeder | Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Sheppard, materiel readiness division noncommissioned officer in charge, I Corps, tracks battlefield resources for the I Corps command portion of Talisman Sabre 15 at Gallipoli Barracks, Australia July 13. Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise that provides an invaluable opportunity for nearly 30,00 U.S. and Australia defense forces to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries’ ability to plan and execute a full range of operations from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts. (U.S. Army Photo manipulation by Sgt. Daniel Schroeder, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

GALLIPOLI BARRACKS, QLD, AUSTRALIA

07.17.2015

Story by Sgt. Daniel Schroeder 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

GALLIPOLI BARRACKS - I Corps and the Australian Army completed the sixth iteration of Talisman Sabre 15 here, July 18.

I Corps attempted to certify as Combined Force Land Component Command. Approximately 300 I Corps Soldiers participated in the largest Pacific Command exercise of 2015, consisting of U.S. and Australian forces with a contingent of 30,000 participants.

“Talisman Sabre was a complex exercise that brings together all branches of service and teaches us how to prevent conflict and shape things that lead to instability in this region,” said Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, I Corps Commanding General. “We have served alongside Australia in every major conflict since World War I, and our strong partnership with the Australian Defense Force continues to reinforce our commitment to the Pacific region.”

The purpose of Talisman Sabre was to improve U.S./Australian combat readiness and interoperability, and maximize combined training opportunities. The exercise incorporated lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Talisman Sabre was designed to exercise combined staffs in crisis action planning and humanitarian missions.

“The exercise has tested my soldiers and I with the high operation tempo and managing critical tasks in a short time,” said Staff Sgt. Jesus Roman, airspace control operations noncommissioned officer, Company A, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, I Corps.

Talisman Sabre 15 was different because the increased interagency involvement.

“Talisman Sabre provided an invaluable opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment,” said Lanza, “that will increase both countries’ ability to plan and execute contingency responses, from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.”

Talisman Sabre included forces from all branches; Army, Special Forces, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and National Army, with forces from New Zealand participated and observers from Japan.
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“We had some bumps in the road working with our counterparts,” Roman said. “The bumps show you where to improve at. Working through the bumps improved the interoperability of the exercise.”

• Date Taken: 07.17.2015
• Date Posted: 07.17.2015 05:19
• Story ID: 170310
• Location: GALLIPOLI BARRACKS, QLD, AU