The first rotation of around 200 US Marine Corps personnel arrived in Darwin earlier this week as part of the ongoing US consideration of its global force posture.
This initial rotation is an integral part of the enhanced practical cooperation measures pursuant to the Australia-United States Alliance relationship announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US President Barack Obama during his Australian visit last November.
This initiative will see US Marine Corps personnel deploying to Northern Australia on a rotational basis for around six months per year.
Over the six month period, this initial Marine Corps rotation will undertake bilateral training in Australia with the ADF and conduct unilateral training in Australia.
The Marines will spend the majority of that time in ADF Northern Territory training areas and ranges including the Mount Bundey and Kangaroo Flats Training Areas.
The initial rotation will be an infantry company, which will not include heavy equipment, vehicles or aircraft.
The intent in the coming years is to establish a rotational presence of up to a 2,500 personnel Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), rotating into Northern Australia in the northern dry season.
A full MAGTF includes a Command Element, Ground Element, Aviation Element and Logistics Element.
Major equipment to support the elements of the MAGTF includes wheeled vehicles, artillery pieces, light armoured vehicles and aircraft, in addition to personnel.
The rotations of will use existing Defence facilities in Northern Australia for accommodation and training, while Defence will provide a range of support to this initial rotation and costs for this rotation will be shared under existing legal, financial and logistical arrangements.
Australia and the US continue to work together to establish specific activities that will occur during this initial rotation, and will continue to work closely with the Northern Territory Government.