NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia – Shadows bearing shovels become animated as the night reaches its coldest point. Metal clanks on rock as Marines with 2nd squad, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, settle in to their new home.
Lance Cpl. Andrew Naranjo, a rifleman with 2nd platoon, tilts his head to the sky after filling his sandbags.
“The night vision goggles work off of night-time illumination,” said Naranjo. “If you look up, you can literally see thousands of stars.”
Wild dogs howl as the sun rises to reveal red dirt and tall grass in the midst of a forest. The Marines pack up their sleeping systems and position their rifles in a defensive position.
“We’re just preparing for any fight that may occur,” said Naranjo.
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, Marine Rotational Force Darwin, have just completed exercise Brolga Strike, a two-week brigade certification exercise. They are now preparing for Talisman Sabre.