Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australia Defence Force and Unites States Military, has entered it's final week in north Queensland.
The Talisman Sabre involves multiple field training exercises which incorporate force preparation (logistic) activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, urban operations, air combat and maritime operations.
Brigadier General Eric S. Strong, Deputy Commanding General Officer of support of 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Colorado said Talisman Sabre showcased the closeness of the Australian and US alliance.
"For over 100 years, from the battlefields of France to the mountains of Afghanistan, Australians and Americans have fought alongside each other in war and trained together in peace," he said.
"Talisman Sabre builds on those foundations, prepares for our collective future and demonstrates our Nations' and service members' continued commitment to each another and our alliance."
In addition to our US counterparts, the 2021 exercise has invited participation from Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with approximately 17,000 military personnel participating on land, sea and air throughout its duration.
Occurring every two years, the exercise is designed to challenge participating military personnel with planning and conducting combined and joint task force operations to improve combat readiness between respective forces.
"Bilateral exercises help maintain and build trust and interoperability among key allies through shared experiences and tough, realistic training," Mr Strong said.
This weeks activities kicked off on July 24 in Bowen with urban operations involving collaboration between United States Marine Corps and Australian and Japan Ground Defence Forces who conducted night operations to secure a remote town and airfield.
Airfield seizure and assault missions will be conducted by soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) and 25th Infantry Division in Charters Towers from July 28.
This will include a display from 150 Alaskan based 'Spartan Brigade' paratroopers, who will light up the sky at Lakeview Station, 47 kilometers west of Charters Towers, as they execute their tactical manoeuvre from the Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III for the first time
Wrapping up the week in Ingham on July 28-31, soldiers from all seven nations will conduct the amphibious stage of TS in a mock assault involving armoured vehicles, air operations and beach landings at Forest beach and Lucinda.
The exercise is a major undertaking for all countries involved, who have continued to perform cooperative demonstrations between all military personnel, sharing their skills and knowledge to demonstrate cooperative defence capabilities.
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