US Marines and sailors join Japanese and Aussie soldiers in large live-firing training exercise

More than 650 military personnel including US Marines and sailors have joined Japanese and Australian soldiers for a large-scale, live-fire training exercise this month.

One of several large warfighting training exercises to be held in Queensland between Australian, US and Japanese militaries this year has commenced.

More than 650 military personnel are participating in Exercise Southern Jackaroo, a trilateral training activity designed to strengthen combat readiness and interoperability between the three forces.

The exercise, which will include live firing, comprises 400 Australian Defence Force (ADF) soldiers, 190 US Marines from Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) and 70 soldiers from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF).

It started Monday and is scheduled to take place throughout the heritage-listed, 453,700 hectare Shoalwater Bay Military Training area, about 80km north of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, through to May 27.

Australian Army riflemen from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct a simulated assault with United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey support at the urban operations training area at in Shoalwater Bay during a previous Exercise Southern Jackaroo. Picture: Corporal Tristan Kennedy

Brigadier Michael Say, Commander of the Brisbane-based 7th Combat Brigade, said the combined arms exercise would include tank integration and live fire between infantries.

“Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a great example of how our regional partners integrate with Australian forces to conduct realistic combat team training for combat operations,” he said.

“Our combined capability to co-ordinate ground forces demonstrates adaptability and interoperability that can be applied to disaster relief or warfighting operations.”

JGSDF Training Unit Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ryozo Asano said the exercise was timely.

“Considering the current world situation, the trilateral exercise is very significant, and it is very useful for improving the capability of units and all soldiers,” he said.

MRF-D Commanding Officer Colonel Christopher Steele said Exercise Southern Jackaroo continued to build on the relationship between Australia and the US.

“MRF-D is excited to continue the outstanding tradition of Southern Jackaroo alongside our trusted Australian and Japanese allies,” he said.

More than 600 Australian, US and Japanese military personnel have come together this month to participate in Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2022 in Central Queensland. Picture: Natasha Emeck

“We are looking forward to enhancing our combined interoperability and developing our relationships.”

The MRF-D is a US Marine contingent that rotates through Northern Australia during the dry season in order to undertake various training exercises with the ADF and regional partners.

The first group of Darwin-based Marines comprised 200 in 2012 but had increased to 2500 by the 2019 rotation.

A contingent of about 2200 US Marines, sailors and a US Army detachment arrived in the NT in March for a six month rotation, with most personnel from the 5th Marine Regiment based in San Diego in California.

The group is scheduled to participate in several combined training exercises with ADF throughout the year.

Along with several other nations, Japan and the US also participate in Australia’s largest military training exercise every two years, Talisman Sabre.

First used by soldiers deploying to the Vietnam War, the Shoalwater Bay Training Area has been one of Australia’s prime military training areas since 1965.