Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, US Army and US Marines from the 2016 Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) forces have embarked today on HMAS Adelaide to transit from Brisbane to Adelaide to join Exercise HAMEL.
The transit on the LHD from 15-23 June provides an opportunity for both forces to practice joint training in a range of areas and work closely together on their amphibious interoperability.
The training better positions Australia and the US to respond together to regional contingencies, such as a need for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, which would include the delivery of aid supplies, personnel and equipment to countries in the region.
HMAS Adelaide's sister ship HMAS Canberra was used when ADF personnel deployed on Operation FIJI ASSIST in March this year. At its peak, approximately 1,000 ADF personnel helped to provide shelter, access to medical facilities and other emergency relief.
This year the 1,250 US Marines involved in the MRF-D are participating in a number of activities with the ADF in Australia including Exercise SOUTHERN JACKAROO in Queensland, Exercise HAMEL in South Australia and Exercises’ KOOLENDONG and KOWARI in the Northern Territory.