This week a group of senior Defence officers from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore visited the NT to observe Exercise Koolendong 2016, a US Marine Corps training activity at the Northern Territory’s largest training area, the Bradshaw Field Training Area.
Exercise Koolendong 2016 is a US-led infantry exercise being conducted 1-19 August involving the USMC Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D), the Australian Army, and for the first time the French Armed Forces (New Caledonia).
Air Commodore Noel Derwort, Director-General Engagement and Assessment Headquarters - Joint Operations Command, said hosting the visitors was an opportunity to showcase the nature of MRF-D training in the NT to our regional partners.
“The MRF-D deployments provide very real benefits to Australia and the US by increasing opportunities to train together and enhance interoperability. The rotations also present new opportunities for engagement with regional partners, to deepen defence cooperation across the Indo-Pacific in the interests of regional stability and security,” he said
“The Exercise Koolendong 16 visit promotes the benefits of regional security and cooperation through the activities of the MRF-D.”
“The Exercise Koolendong 16 visit by some of our closest regional partners is a chance for us to demonstrate our capabilities, and the professionalism of our people,” he said.
“The ADF has a close relationship with our neighbouring defence forces, and we welcome their involvement in our training activities with US Marines in the NT and throughout the region.”