U.S. Marines, Australians, Japanese kick off trilateral Exercise Southern Jackaroo

Photo By Sgt. Micha Pierce | U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin stand in formation with Australian Army soldiers during the opening ceremony of exercise Southern Jackaroo at Robertson Barracks, June 15, 2021. Marines, Australian Army soldiers and Japan Self-Defense Force members come together to commemorate an official opening ceremony for the beginning of exercise Southern Jackaroo. Defense ties between the United States, allies, and partner nations are critical to regional security, cooperation, and integration of our combined capabilties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Micha Pierce)  

DARWIN, NT, AUSTRALIA

06.15.2021

Story by Capt. Thomas deVries 

Marine Rotational Force - Darwin

Darwin, NT, Australia – U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D), soldiers with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will conduct Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2021 in Northern Territory training areas June 15-25, 2021.

Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a field training exercise that integrates Australian and Japanese elements with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, increasing the capacity to mutually support one another during combined operations.

Three main activities will occur during the training. There will be a table top exercise where key leaders and planners will receive a mission and then war game to assess their plan to accomplish the mission. Marines will conduct sniper training and establish an artillery battery of M777 Howitzers, 155mm cannons; these provide indirect fire support for infantry units. Finally, there will be a live fire field training exercise that will integrate infantry and artillery units of the U.S. Marines, Australian Army, and Japanese Ground Self Defence force.

The MRF-D Ground Combat Element is comprised of a reinforced infantry battalion, including 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment; an artillery battery from 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment; and a detachment from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion. Other capabilities of MRF-D, such as logistics and aviation elements, will support the live fire training in Mount Bundy Training Area.

All U.S. service members in Australia strictly adhered to Australian health including COVID-19 testing and quarantine before being released. The health protection measures demonstrate a sustained commitment to the Australia-U.S. alliance and ensure continued regional health, security, and stability.

For media interested in covering the exercise, contact Marine Rotational Force – Darwin Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Capt. Thomas deVries, USMC: [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 06.15.2021
• Date Posted: 06.15.2021 00:58
• Story ID: 398916
• Location: DARWIN, NT, AU