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Talisman Saber Concludes as a Successful Evolution

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050706-12
Release Date: 7/6/2005 10:47:00 AM

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (NNS) -- More than 11,000 personnel completed one of the largest combined military exercises between the U.S. and Australian militaries June 30.

Talisman Saber, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Command, was designed to train the U.S. 7th Fleet commander’s staff and Australian Joint Operations staff as a designated Combined Task Force (CTF) headquarters.

Commander, Combined Task Force (CCTF) for the exercise, and Commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, said the exercise “was a great opportunity for U.S. and Australian forces to challenge ourselves in a complex and highly relevant scenario involving war at sea, expeditionary warfare, land maneuver, coalition humanitarian assistance, and United Nations humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping. The challenges of a coalition and U.N. environment and meshing interoperability with flexible power projection were met, while maintaining safety and environmental compliance.”

With the CCTF embarked aboard the 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), nearly 400 personnel embarked during a weeklong visit to Sydney, Australia. While there, the staff also took part in a series of bilateral talks with their Australian counterparts.

Australian Major Gen. Mark Kelly, deputy commander of the Combined Task Force, said the readiness and interoperability demonstrated during the exercise is crucial to any operation.

“The work we’ve accomplished together as a coalition made us one team,” Kelly said.

According to one member of the Australian Air Force, it is important to understand the value of the joint combined operation and appreciate the large-scale training exercise.

“This exercise is so important because it reflects how we operate in real life,” said Flt. Lt. Krishaan Wright, embarked on Blue Ridge. “I think that this will help us, because we often work together and become coalition partners.”

The exercise focused on crisis action planning and execution of contingency response operations. U.S. Pacific Command units and Australian forces conducted land, sea and air training throughout Australia’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Several important components of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces played a role in the training exercise. USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) conducted carrier qualifications, strike training and drills.

The majority of Australian Defense Forces' land troops from Townsville’s 3 Brigade (3BDE) and Darwin’s 1 Brigade (1BDE) trained alongside U.S. troops primarily in the Townsville area.

Combined Royal Australian Navy ships exercised off the coast of Queensland from Brisbane to Shoalwater Bay alongside U.S. Navy ships.

During Talisman Saber, CCTF forces conducted a controlled “SINKEX” exercise, sinking two decommissioned U.S. warships in international waters. The sunken vessels will now serve as an artificial reef to help foster maritime life.

But the exercise’s most successful factor was the improvement of interoperability between the two nations.

Talisman Saber gave the crew of USS Boxer (LHD 4) the opportunity to work with a multinational force of more than 16,000 service members and to prepare for possible real-world events that would require joint operations.

Boxer, along with USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), Assault Craft Unit 5, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, HMAS Manoora, HMAS Ballarat, Australian 5th Aviation Regiment and the Australian 1st Armored Brigade, worked hard to make the exercise a success.

“Talisman Saber is a key exercise in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility and a demonstration of support and solidarity between two nations committed to democracy, liberty and human rights,” said Capt. Thomas J. Culora, Boxer’s commanding officer. “It is a tangible expression of mutual respect and pledge of assistance.”

They are just terrific,” Greenert said of the Boxer crew during a tour of the ship June 19. “Talisman Saber is a complex and diverse coalition operation. These fine Sailors were asked to ‘pinch hit’ late in the planning process, and they’ve hit a home run.”

Boxer conducted a force-on-force and live-fire Field Training Exercise (FTX), and a strategic air drop.

As U.S. and Australian military forces began Exercise Talisman Saber 2005 down under near the Great Barrier Reef, both sides received special training on the unique environment.

Shoalwater Bay Training Area is Australia’s premier military maneuver range, covering 667,182 acres of land - about the size of Rhode Island. The region harbors six species of sea turtles and has the largest population of endangered dugongs in Australia. Dugongs are sea creatures similar to Florida’s manatee.

“Protection of nature and prevention of environmental damage is of paramount importance during Talisman Saber ’05,” said Australian Army Col. Mike Goodyer.

In the future, this exercise will continue to be a key opportunity to train Australian and U.S. combined forces in mid- to high-intensity combat operations using training areas in Australia.