MRF-D and ADF complete combined-arms live-fire exercise in NT
US Marine Corps News
4 Sep 2019 | 1st Lt. Colin Kennard Marine Rotational Force - Darwin
DARWIN, NT, AUSTRALIA -- U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin in collaboration with Australian Army Soldiers completed Exercise Koolendong 2019 in the Northern Territory of Australia in August.
Exercise Koolendong, conducted at Mount Bundey Training Area from 21-29 August, was a live-fire warfighting activity designed to increase interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and Australian Defence Force.
This activity exercised the ability to command and control a Marine Air-Ground Task Force in coordination with the ADF and included Australia-U.S. integrated elements.
The commanding officer of MRF-D, U.S. Marine Colonel Russ Boyce, said Koolendong demonstrated the U.S. and ADF shared commitment to promoting common security interests in the Indo-Pacific.
"This bilateral combined-arms activity, collaboratively developed by U.S. Marines and ADF service members, is a reflection of our ability to plan and execute complex large-scale activities together," said Boyce.
A platoon of soldiers from the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia joined the Australia-U.S. exercise, embedded with a company from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Batteries from 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, and MRF-D, as well as a MRF-D High Mobility Artillery Rocket System platoon provided indirect fire support to maneuvering infantry units.
Forces were transported around the exercise by MRF-D MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft.
The exercise included international observers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Koolendong is the culminating activity in a robust MRF-D training schedule.
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