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Australian Forces Embark Boxer

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050608-12
Release Date: 6/8/2005 4:37:00 PM

By Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class James Bartels, USS Boxer Public Affairs

DARWIN, Australia (NNS) -- More than 80 Australian army, navy and air force service members embarked USS Boxer (LHD 4) in Darwin, Australia, May 30 through June 1 in preparation for Exercise Talisman Saber 2005.

The primary goal of the Darwin visit was the embarkation of equipment from 1st Armored Regiment in support of the amphibious portion of the exercise. The equipment included Leopard AS1 Main Battle Tanks (MBT), M113A1 Armored Personnel Carriers, Armored Command Vehicles and ambulances.

“This exercise will be a good opportunity to train with our American partners on the various equipment in our respective armed forces,” said Lt. Andre Le Masle, 1st Armored Regiment, Brisbane, Queensland. “This will be a good opportunity for our service members to see how Americans handle their equipment, which is very similar to ours.”

Talisman Saber provides Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet an opportunity to train with the Australian Joint Operations Staff to work as a designated Combined Task Force. The exercise will focus on crisis action planning and execution of contingency response operations.

Talisman Saber has an array of events, including a command-post exercise, a force-on-force and live-fire field training exercise, and a strategic air drop.

Combined operations also allow personnel in similar fields of expertise to exchange ideas and improve work practices in both services. Culinary specialists, hospital corpsmen and operations specialists are a few of the ratings on Boxer who will receive a helping hand from the embarked Australians.

“This is a great new experience - a chance for both the Australian and American personnel to learn new things about our jobs,” said Culinary Specialist Seaman Genevieve Brennick, from Rochester, N.Y. “I believe that working in cooperation like this will bring greater understanding between our two nations.”

More than 700 additional Australian service members will embark Boxer in Townsville, Australia. Boxer and embarked Australian personnel will then join with the rest of the multinational force in the Shoalwater Bay training area in the coming weeks to start off Exercise Talisman Saber, which will conclude in late June.