Stories

Lt. Col. Keven Matthews, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Brig. Gen. John Frewen, 1st Brigade commanding general and senior Australian Defence Force officer for Robertson Barracks, approach the battalion together before Frewen addresses MRF-D Marines about the six-month rotation, expectations and the significance of their presence, April 11. Frewen said the rotation is a tangible sign of the strength between Australia and the United States. - Lt. Col. Keven Matthews, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Brig. Gen. John Frewen, 1st Brigade commanding general and senior Australian Defence Force officer for Robertson Barracks, approach the battalion together before Frewen addresses MRF-D Marines about the six-month rotation, expectations and the significance of their presence, April 11. Frewen said the rotation is a tangible sign of the strength between Australia and the United States.

Cpl. Frank Smith, Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, pours himself a drink from the Sallyman truck during Exercise Koolendong, here, Sept. 4. The truck's driver, Arnold Beazley, a Salvation Army representative known as the Sallyman, delivers cold beverages and snacks to Australian soldiers and MRF-D Marines during field operations. - Cpl. Frank Smith, Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, pours himself a drink from the Sallyman truck during Exercise Koolendong, here, Sept. 4. The truck's driver, Arnold Beazley, a Salvation Army representative known as the Sallyman, delivers cold beverages and snacks to Australian soldiers and MRF-D Marines during field operations.

Two Marines with Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, fire 60mm mortars as part of a live-fire training event, ensuring they have accurate aim on the simulated enemy force, here, during Exercise Koolendong, Sept. 1. This training evolution is the first of its kind here in which Marines with MRF-D and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit worked bilaterally with the Australian soldiers of Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment as a "proof of concept" to assess the capacity of the training ranges to support a battalion-sized live-fire event. - Two Marines with Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, fire 60mm mortars as part of a live-fire training event, ensuring they have accurate aim on the simulated enemy force, here, during Exercise Koolendong, Sept. 1. This training evolution is the first of its kind here in which Marines with MRF-D and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit worked bilaterally with the Australian soldiers of Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment as a "proof of concept" to assess the capacity of the training ranges to support a battalion-sized live-fire event.

Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin board two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, here, Aug. 28. A total of four Ospreys flew the Marines to Bradshaw Field Training Area for Exercise Koolendong. During this exercise, Marines with MRF-D and the 31st MEU will work bilaterally with Australian soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. - Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin board two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, here, Aug. 28. A total of four Ospreys flew the Marines to Bradshaw Field Training Area for Exercise Koolendong. During this exercise, Marines with MRF-D and the 31st MEU will work bilaterally with Australian soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Cpl. Luis Vasquez, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, and an Australian Army classmate, complete moving pushups during a Combat Fitness Leadership Course physical training session at the Northern Gym, here, Aug. 20. The course teaches students to lead physical training techniques. Two MRF-D Marines are attending the month-long course. This is the first time Marines have participated in an Australian Army training course here. - Cpl. Luis Vasquez, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, and an Australian Army classmate, complete moving pushups during a Combat Fitness Leadership Course physical training session at the Northern Gym, here, Aug. 20. The course teaches students to lead physical training techniques. Two MRF-D Marines are attending the month-long course. This is the first time Marines have participated in an Australian Army training course here.

Sgt. Michael Valentino, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, conducts heaves, known in the U.S. as pull-ups, as part of a Combat Fitness Leadership Course Barrier Test at the Northern Gym, here, July 30. This was one of seven different exercises participants had to complete. The top two Marine performers in the barrier test will attend the month-long CFLC. - Sgt. Michael Valentino, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, conducts heaves, known in the U.S. as pull-ups, as part of a Combat Fitness Leadership Course Barrier Test at the Northern Gym, here, July 30. This was one of seven different exercises participants had to complete. The top two Marine performers in the barrier test will attend the month-long CFLC.

Sgt. Ian Polhamus, squad leader, 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, poses in front of an Australian flag, here, June 27. Polhamus lived Down Under for seven years. He said Australia feels like his home away from home. - Sgt. Ian Polhamus, squad leader, 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, poses in front of an Australian flag, here, June 27. Polhamus lived Down Under for seven years. He said Australia feels like his home away from home.

Australian Army Pvt. Scott Bailed, riflemaan, Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, completes a buddy squat exercise with Cpl. Oziel Esquivel, data supervisor, Headquarters Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, during a Corporals Course physical training session, here, June 18. The course provides corporals with the education and skills necessary to lead Marines. Two Australian soldiers and a Navy corpsman enrolled in the course to further their Marine Corps knowledge. - Australian Army Pvt. Scott Bailed, riflemaan, Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, completes a buddy squat exercise with Cpl. Oziel Esquivel, data supervisor, Headquarters Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, during a Corporals Course physical training session, here, June 18. The course provides corporals with the education and skills necessary to lead Marines. Two Australian soldiers and a Navy corpsman enrolled in the course to further their Marine Corps knowledge.