9th Brigade, US Coast Guard join forces in 30,000 strong Talisman Sabre multi-domain warfighting

While the size and scale of our military’s Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 will captivate the masses, it is the contribution of a single task group which is shaping up to be the most intriguing addition to the mammoth exercise. Details.

ADF reservists will play a larger role in this year’s iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

While the size and scale of military’s Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 will captivate the masses, it is the contribution of a single task group that is shaping up to be the most intriguing addition to the mammoth Top End war games exercise.

Starting this weekend, more than 30,000 military personnel from across 19 nations will take to the bush, air and sea to wargame, hitting Territorians with another year of exercise deja vu.

However, at a time when a retention crisis continues to plague the ADF and heated debate surrounds the ‘younger’ generation’s’ desire to enlist, this year’s iteration comes with a positive turnout.

A 1400-strong task group, made up almost entirely of reservists, will take part in the month-long multi-domain warfighting and have been assigned the role of patrolling communities, waterways and critical infrastructure across the Top End.

The task group is made up of both Australian personnel and reservists from the US Coast Guard, who have shipped half-a-dozen vessels to Darwin especially for July.

An Australian Army soldier from 10th/27th Royal South Australia Regiment during a platoon attack.

Despite not being full-time, ‘chocos’ - as they’re colloquially referred to across the ADF - have a lot to offer operationally, according to 9th Brigade commander Brigadier Tim Orders.

“They have real empathy with (local) communities and bring a lot in terms of how we are able to connect and operate,” he said.

Brigadier Orders’ comments are backed by history, as it was ‘chocos’ who did the heavy lifting during the Kokoda Track campaign of 1942 - a series of battles waged in the jungle of Papua New Guinea.

Currently, the ADF’s reserve numbers remain relatively healthy at approximately 32,500.

Defence heads in Canberra are looking to expand the ADF’s reserve capability.

However, the ADF have sought to expand that number and refine its quality, after a 2024 strategic review tabled 14 detailed recommendations.

One of the submissions was to extend the active commitment period of former permanent ADF personnel from five to 10 years, allowing military commanders to call-on a larger pool of troops in the event of an emergency.

It was also recommended the ADF raise an extra 1000 troops by 2030.

Australia is not the only nation putting more stock into their reserves.

US Coast Guard reservists prepare for Exercise Talisman Sabre at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin.

This month, Commander Faith Gamboa of the US Coast Guard will lead a team - of which about 90 per cent are reservists - who hail from Clearwater, Florida.

“This is the first time a Port Security unit has ever been to Darwin, ever been to the Indian Ocean,” she said.

“So this is a big thing for the US government.”

While it is rare for the US Coast Guard to partake in a large, international military exercise, Commander Gamboa said she saw potential to test her troops in the waters of Darwin Harbour and beyond.

“(Our capability is) we can detect, defend and deter any kind of malign threat that’s in the intercoastal waterways or surrounding waters, as well as port spaces (and) critical infrastructure” she said.

“We have both a waterside security portion as well as a shore-side security portion, providing a layer defence in the port area.”

Exercise Talisman Sabre will run from 13 July to 4 August.

Originally published as 9th Brigade, US Coast Guard join forces in 30,000 strong Talisman Sabre multi-domain warfighting