US Marines, ADF prepare for first major military exercise of 2020 Marine Rotational Force – Darwin

MEMBERS of the US Marines and Australian Defence Force are ramping up training in preparation for the first major military exercise of this year’s coronavirus-impacted Marine Rotational Force

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MEMBERS of the US Marines and Australian Defence Force (ADF) are ramping up training in preparation for the first major military exercise of this year’s coronavirus-impacted Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D), following the release of the final cohort of Marines from quarantine.

Exercise Koolendong will be a large-scale bilateral exercise conducted to strengthen the ability of Marines and ADF troops to respond to a wide range of security challenges and crisis in the region.

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The exercise will take place in early September in the Mount Bundey training area, near Kakadu National Park.

MRF-D commanding officer Colonel David Banning said the exercise was an annual feature of the MRF-D program that troops were keen to continue this year.

“It’s going to be an exercise that looks at the range of capabilities that the MRF-D and ADF forces are designed to conduct here – everything from initial humanitarian assistance to disaster relief operations that will then escalate into something that requires much more significant traditional high-end war-fighting practice, to make sure that our forces are capable of operating together in any circumstance,” he said.

“We’ve got an exercise before that that’s going to be a stepping stone … and after Koolendong, then the focus is going to be on rapidly transitioning for the custodial unit that’s going to have to come in, through the quarantine procedures.”

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Weston Davis and Lance Cpl. Tyler Hughes participate in a simulated fire mission at the Mount Bundey Training Area as part of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin. Picture: Cpl. Lydia Gordon

The exercise announcement comes as the fourth and final cohort of MRF-D Marines completed their 14-day mandatory quarantine last Friday.

There are now slightly more than 1000 Marines in the Territory, down on the 1200 originally planned.

A Marine who tested positive to COVID-19 in July remains in isolation at Royal Darwin Hospital but could be released shortly if he registers a second negative test, having recorded a negative result on Saturday.

The health of all Marines will continue to be monitored by medical personnel for the duration of their time in the NT.

Federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the completion of quarantine for all Marines was a milestone for the 2020 MRF-D program.

“The discharge of the final group of personnel from quarantine demonstrates the effectiveness of the testing and monitoring regime established with the Northern Territory Government,” she said.

“With one positive result captured at initial entry and no further infections, the successful management of the arrival of the US Marines reflects the efforts and planning by the (ADF), the Northern Territory Government and MRF-D.

“The regime of screening, quarantine and testing underscores the priority placed on protecting the local community from COVID-19.”

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Colonel Banning said the close co-ordination of MRF-D with its Australian counterparts had been key to the successful completion of quarantine procedures.