Marine Rotational Force - Darwin

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Miguel Santibanez, automatic rifleman, sits in the defensive position during Exercise Southern Jackaroo at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, May 18, 2016. Conducting defensive training allows U.S. Marines and Australian service members to share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their defensive skills during Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D). MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

Lance Cpl. Adrian Lozano runs with a student during physical education at Larrakeyah Primary School, Northern Territory, Australia, on June 2, 2016. Marines with the Forward Coordination Element, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, volunteered to help with classes at the school. Lozano, from Los Angeles, California, is an administration specialist with FCE, MRF-D.

Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force engage in urban warfare training at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, May 24, 2016. The urban warfare training, part of Exercise Southern Jackaroo, allowed combined military forces to train, teach, and learn from each other in an urban environment during Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D). MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

U.S. Navy Lt. Michael S. Kennedy, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin Chaplain, serves communion to Maj. Christopher W. Simpson, Company C Commander, at the Company C bivouac in Cultana Training Area, South Australia, Australia, June 5, 2016. Military chaplains serve all spiritual needs and ensure service members are afforded the opportunity to practice their religion freely. Kennedy is from Huntsville, Alabama. Simpson, from Rochester, New York, is with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conduct platoon live fire at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, May 22, 2016. The platoon-level live fire and maneuver was part of Exercise Southern Jackaroo, a combined training opportunity during Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D). MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

Marines grapple during squad-on-squad ground fighting at Robertson Barracks, Northern Territory, Australia, May 25, 2016. Squads had to win two bouts or flip tires in order to move on to the next station during the squad competition. The squad-level competition determined which rifle squad or weapons platoon section had the best physical fitness, small-unit leadership, and cohesion within Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin.

Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, move to the roof of a building to post security during Exercise Predator Strike at Cultana Training Area, South Australia, Australia, June 5, 2016. Predator Strike, a yearly exercise taken place in Australia with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, allows Marines to enhance their skills and train with the Australian Defence Force.

Marines and sailors with Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, stand in formation together to commemorate their fallen brothers in arms at Hampstead Barracks, South Australia, Australia, May 30, 2016. A list of 47 Company C Marines who were killed in action during World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War was read aloud to remind the Marines and sailors of the purpose of Memorial Day.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Adrian Lozano helps an Australian preschooler carry potting mix at Millner Preschool, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 28, 2016. U.S. Marines with Forward Coordination Element, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, volunteered with preschool teachers and parents to clean up the schoolyard for preschoolers. MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will contribute to and engage with local communities. Lozano, from Los Angeles, California, is an administration specialist with FCE, MRF-D.

Marines and sailors carry a simulated casualty and main packs during a squad competition at Robertson Barracks, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 25, 2016. The squad-level competition determined which rifle squad or weapons platoon section had the best physical fitness, small-unit leadership, and cohesion within Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin.

Marines and sailors start a squad competition carrying main packs and logs at Robertson Barracks, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 25, 2016. The squad-level competition determined which rifle squad or weapons platoon section had the best physical fitness, small-unit leadership, and cohesion within Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Simon Delacruz helps an Australian preschooler rake a garden at Millner Preschool, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 28, 2016. U.S. Marines with Forward Coordination Element, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, volunteered with preschool teachers and parents to clean up the schoolyard for preschoolers. MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will contribute to and engage with local communities. Delacruz, from Rochester, New York, is a cyber network operator with FCE, MRF-D.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, watch a traditional Aboriginal dance during the Welcome to Country Ceremony on Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia on April 22, 2016. Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and members of the Australian Army with 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, take on the final day of Exercise Kokoda outside Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia, May 13, 2016. U.S. Marines worked together with the Australian service members during Subject One for Corporal Class #0245. Experiencing Subject One for Corporal Class #0245 together allows everyone to train and learn from each other during Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D). MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Steven Sutey Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, marches in the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day in Darwin, Australia on April 25, 2016. Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

Australian Army Pvt. Jayden S. Oldride and U.S. Marine Cpl. Ernesto Argote, combat engineers, search through the thicket at Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 19, 2016. U.S. Marine and Australian Army combat engineers conducted clearing training to find improvised explosive device and caches. Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance. Oldride, from Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia, is with 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Brigade. Argote, from Los Angeles, California, is with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, MRF-D.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Stuart D. Glass, Sergeant Major 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, gives a brief to the Marines before a formation run on Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia, April 29, 2016. Running together helps Marines acclimatize to the hot and humid Australian environment during Marine Rotational Force - Darwin (MRF-D). MRF-D is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

Australian Army Pvt. Jacob Handley, combat engineer, searches through the thicket with U.S. Marines at Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 19, 2016. U.S. Marine and Australian Army combat engineers conducted clearing training to find improvised explosive device and caches. Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance. Handley is with 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Brigade.

Cpl. Chance A. Benedict Jr., a mortarman, talks to Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, about the M40A5 sniper rifle at Mount Bundey Training Area, Northern Territory, Australia, May 14, 2016. Mabus came to Australia to visit the Marines and Sailors of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin and observe live-fire ranges. Benedict is with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Devon L. Ward and Australian Army Pvt. Jacob Handley, combat engineers, perform a radio check at Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 19, 2016. U.S. Marine and Australian Army combat engineers conducted clearing training to find improvised explosive device and caches. Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance. Ward, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, MRF-D. Handley, is with 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Brigade.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin pose after graduating from the Australian Subject One Corporal Course, Sept. 18 at Robertson Barracks, Northern Territory, Australia. Participation in the junior leadership course gave the allied Marines and Australian soldiers the opportunity to learn about each other’s standard operating procedures, tactics, techniques and procedures to further increase their ability to work together effectively.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and members of the Darwin Stray Cats social rugby club shake hands before the start of the 9/11 memorial rugby match at the Defence Establishment Berrimah rugby field, Northern Territory, Australia Sept. 11. The annual match was established with the first game played between the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Stray Cats on Sept. 11, 2001, right before the terrorist attacks, and has become a commemorative match for each rotation of MRF-D. Participating in the match was an excellent opportunity to improve Marines’ knowledge of Australian culture and ultimately strengthened our bond as allies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reba James/ Released)

Lieutenant Colonel Eric J. Dougherty and Sgt. Maj. Marcus A. Chestnut stand at parade rest during a service commemorating the 73rd Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea May 8 at USS Peary Gun Memorial, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of naval engagements, between the U.S. and Australia against Japan, which occurred May 4 to May 8, 1942 on the northeast coast of Australia. Community engagements between the U.S. military and Australian Defence Force reinforce relations that date back to when both countries fought alongside each other in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan together. Dougherty is the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin. Chestnut is the sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MRF-D.

Left to right: Lieutenant Luke Morgan, Alpha Troop Commander, 1st Transport Squadron, 1st Combat Service Support Battalion; Lt. Stephen Weir, operations officer with 105 Signal Squadron, 1st Combat Signal Regiment; Sgt. Bradley S. Minge, color sergeant with Headquarters and Support Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin; Lt. Katherine Newson, maritime logistics officer with Headquarters Northern Command, Joint Operations Command - Australian Theatre; Flight Lieutenant Heath Fulton, operations officer with Joint Task Force 639 ACCE, Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Darwin, Australia. The service members stand before the new location for the national and ensign flags during a ceremony to mark the relocation of service flags April 26 at the Darwin Memorial United Church, Darwin, Australia. The service of worship and ceremony was held in order to relocate the flags to the foyer to create more room for the "Fujita" Peace and Reconciliation Exhibition. Events in the community allow Marines to learn about the history the U.S. and Australia share, and to further the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and Australia.

Corporal Luis Bravoromero, machine gunner, Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, handles an albino python while attending Reception, Staging, Onward - Movement & Integration Apirl 17 at Robertson Barracks, Palmerston, Australia, to ensure they were prepared to begin MRF-D 2015. During the RSO&I, the Marines are familiarized with the local environment, local customs and courtesies, and dangerous wildlife in the area to include snakes and crocodiles. Marines will conduct training at existing Australian Defence Force facilities in the Northern Territory and throughout the region. MRF-D is the deployment of U.S. Marines to Darwin and the Northern Territory, for approximately six months at a time, where they will conduct exercises and training on a rotational basis with the ADF.