There Are Now 2,500 US Marines in Australia After Y…

Saved to Dropbox • Jul 26, 2019 at 10F41 PM

There Are Now 2,500 US

Marines in Australia After
Years of Buildup

U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D)

arrive as part of the force enhancement for the 2019 rotation
at RAAF Base Darwin, Australia, on July 17, 2019. (U.S. Marine
Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan E. Gilbert)

25 Jul 2019
Military.com | By Gina Harkins

The U.S. military's pivot to the PaciTc to counter

China’s rising dominance reached an important
milestone this week when the number of
Marines deployed to Australia reached 2,500.
After years of buildup, the Marine air-ground
task force that spends half a year in Australia's
Northern Territory has reached its fully intended
size, Aussie oXcials announced Thursday.
Advertisement

Get Up to $50,000 in Signing

photo_size_select_actu
Bonuses
Contact a recruiter for insider information on
joining the military including signing bonuses,
career training + more. Click here!

"This milestone demonstrates the enduring

nature of the Australia-U.S. alliance and our
deep engagement with the Indo-PaciTc region,"
Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds
said. "The Marine Rotational Force-Darwin
improves interoperability between Australian
and U.S. defence forces, and enhances our
ability to work together with regional partners in
the interests of stability and security in the Indo-
PaciTc."

The U.S. Trst agreed to send 2,500 Marines

Down Under during the Obama administration.
The number grew from a 200-person company
of Marines that deployed to Darwin in 2012.
This spring, the eighth iteration of the Marine
Rotational Force was 1,700 strong, including
infantry Marines, logistics capabilities and
aircraft.
The 800 additional Marines who arrived in
Australia this week are based in Hawaii, Japan
and California, and include infantry, logistics and
medical personnel, Marine Corps Times
reported.

Initial plans made between U.S. and Australian

oXcials in 2011 called for reaching this 2,500-
size force by 2017. That was later delayed as
oXcials sorted out cost-sharing for housing the
Marines and their equipment for half of each
year.

The Marines typically arrive in Darwin in April

and stay until October. Most stay at Robertson
Barracks or the Royal Australian Force Base
Darwin in the Northern Territory, though this
year a company of Marines stayed about 1,500
miles away at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville,
Queensland.

The Marines have a High-Mobility Artillery

Rocket System, MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft,
attack helicopters and an advanced TPS-80
radar system, Australian oXcials said. While
Down Under, the Marines train with their Aussie
counterparts in and around Australia, as well as
with other partners throughout the region.
-- Gina Harkins can be reached at
gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter
@ginaaharkins.

Related Topics

Military Headlines, Marine Corps Topics, Australia,

Deployment

© Copyright 2019 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material

may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SPONSORED LINK

Rates are Still Low - Use Your VA Loan

BeneGt Now
Military News

• Military Opinion • Air Force

• Military Events • Marine Corps

• Army • US Military Budget for

Fiscal Year 2019
• Navy
• Coast Guard

Select Service

ARMY MARINES NAVY AIR FORCE

NATIONAL
COAST GUARD SPOUSE LOGIN
GUARD

Most Popular Military News

New Law Will Allow Thousands More

Veterans to Join American Legion
A soon-to-be signed law will allow anyone who
served since the end of World War II to join.

Navy SEALs Kicked Out of Iraq Over

'Deterioration of Good Order and
Discipline'

Gen. Berger Could Revolutionize Marines'

Career Paths. Here's What He Wants to
Change

16 Marines Nabbed During Morning

Formation on Drug-, People-Smuggling
Charges

Coastie in Viral Video Who Jumped on

Drug-Running Sub Will Get Award

Latest BeneGts Info

• Ex-Sailor Sentenced for Lying About Husband to
Steal $140,000 in Bene?ts

• VA Accepting Applications For New STEM GI Bill

Soon

• Specially Adapted Housing Program Must

Expand to Meet Disabled Vets' Needs

• Senate Passes Blue Water Navy Bill, Cementing

Victory for Ill Vietnam Veterans

• Inspector General Finds VA Overcharged

Disabled Vets on Home Loans

View More
More Military Headlines

Japan's New Island-Defending Marines

Stormed a Beach With US, Aussie
Troops
The exercise gives a glimpse into how the three
countries could unite to defend contested islands in
the PaciTc.

SEAL Team 6 Member Charged with

Impersonating Someone to Get Nude
Photos

The Pentagon’s Answer to Malaria, Lyme

Disease Cases: ‘Bugapalooza’

Navy SEAL Platoon Removed from Iraq

over Reports of Sexual Assault, Alcohol
Use

5 Years After Nationwide Scandal, VA

Still Struggles to Track Wait Times
 View More

Army
• Korean War Casualty's Long Trip Home Ends
This Weekend

• Milley Con?rmed as 20th Chairman of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff

• Wife of Army Captain Killed in Ethiopian Airlines

Crash Sues Boeing

View More

Air Force
• Air Force Wants More Money for Light Attack
Aircraft Effort

• Marine Arrested at Air Force Base Faces Military

Charges

• Senate to Hold Con?rmation for Hyten Amid

Sexual Assault Accusations

View More
Navy
• Retired Navy Fighter Pilot Said New 'Top Gun'
Trailer Nearly Gave Him 'Speed Rush'

• SEAL Team 6 Member Charged with

Impersonating Someone to Get Nude Photos

• Navy SEAL Platoon Removed from Iraq over

Reports of Sexual Assault, Alcohol Use

View More

Military BeneGts Updates

• The GI Bill Transfer Rules Are Changing Soon

• VA Now Accepting Applications for New VET

TEC GI Bill Program

• Obesity Is Not a Service-Connected Disability: VA

View More

Marine Corps
• Japan's New Island-Defending Marines Stormed
a Beach With US, Aussie Troops

• Marine Arrested at Air Force Base Faces Military

Charges
• 16 Marines Nabbed During Morning Formation
on Drug-, People-Smuggling Charges

View More

Coast Guard
• Coastie and His Brothers Rescue Drowning Girl
in the Irish Sea

• Coastie in Viral Video Who Jumped on Drug-

Running Sub Will Get Award

• Coast Guard Rescues Eight People from Two

Separate Boats in Key West

View More

Entertainment
• Retired Navy Fighter Pilot Said New 'Top Gun'
Trailer Nearly Gave Him 'Speed Rush'

• 7 Awesome Posters That Motivated Your

Grandfather in World War II

• Nigerian 'Yahoo Boys' Are Posing as US Military

Members on Facebook

View More
 Join the discussion...

Log in to comment

35480887 • 2 hours ago

Well, with the current news regarding the new

Japanese Imperial Navy's Marines forming a
new unit + training with our Jarheads,
perhaps there is the fear of the once
formidable Japanese Imperial Empire getting
ready to go "island hopping-conquering" once
again? Make those Aussies NERVOUS for
sure!
Reply

I tex • 4 hours ago

It's interesting how we have this Aviation unit

in Australia. It sounds to me like it's really not
a mission. They just don't have anything to do
with the Marine Corps so they post them over
there. Hopefully the rapes won't start!
Reply

Richard Oconnor • 6 hours ago

WON'T BE LONG TILL US MIL. WILL HAVE

BASES IN EVERY COUNTRY, GLOBAL
CONQUEST IS NEAR!
Reply

Phil Mason • 12 hours ago

I would have loved that gig....

Reply

36760003 • 1 day ago

Well our guys be training with the Australian

amphib?
Reply

37386750 • 1 day ago

I was in Darwin with Peleliu ARG and 15th

MEU ON 9/11. Nice people, they were
personally bringing Marines and Sailors back
to the ships after they saw what had
happened. Bit isolated but an interesting
 place.
Reply

About Us | Advertise with Us | Privacy Policy

© 2019 Military Advantage |

AdChoices