Australian, Japanese and United States Marine Corps soldiers executed a complex combined-arms live-fire to conclude Exercise Southern Jackaroo in Townsville.
After four weeks of gruelling field training in early July, tanks, artillery, fire support, combat engineers and dismounted forces from each nation worked side by side to achieve the largest and most complex multinational live-fire activity in the exercise’s history.
Commander 3rd Brigade Brigadier Ben McLennan said it highlighted the level of cooperation achieved.
“This was a complex tactical action, made even more challenging by conducting it across several nations,” Brigadier McLennan said.
“Successfully conducting an activity like this demonstrates the trust we have built during this exercise and through our broader partnerships over many years.
“The live-fire activity was the clearest example of what our forces can achieve when they operate together.”
Commanders and soldiers were required to overcome differences in language, doctrine, equipment and military procedures, while coordinating the movement and effects of the multinational force against the objective.
Commanding Officer Marine Rotational Force – Darwin Colonel George Flynn said the exercise tested the ability of participating forces to operate together.
“The combined arms live-fire demonstrated the synchronisation, integration and interoperability required to execute an operation effectively,” Colonel Flynn said.
“It was rewarding to see several weeks of planning and coordination delivered in real time.”
The exercise challenged the marines to refine their tactics while operating alongside Australian and Japanese forces.
‘The live-fire activity was the clearest example of what our forces can achieve when they operate together.’
Training at Townsville Field Training Area allowed the marines to test their camouflage, manoeuvre and sustainment techniques, while adapting to the environmental and tactical challenges presented by the training area.
“We improved at every level, becoming more adaptable, more cohesive and more effective as a combined force,” Colonel Flynn said.
“That level of synchronisation cannot be achieved without clear planning, strong communication and trust across the entire team.”
Employing drones with trench warfare tactics, missiles and armoured breaching, Brigadier McLennan said the exercise reflected the way emerging technologies were shaping modern operations.
“We’ve significantly increased our use of drones during this exercise, going from about 15 to almost 100 routinely,” Brigadier McLennan said.
“We’ll increase that again during the next exercise and then expand into unmanned ground vehicles as we continue adapting how we prepare for future operations.”
Leading the dismounted attack gave the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) the opportunity to combine its type 16 manoeuvre combat vehicle with Australian and American capabilities.
Exercise director 3rd Division JGSDF Colonel Takanori Booka said the exercise provided valuable experience for his soldiers.
“Training alongside Australian and United States forces has strengthened our operational and combat capabilities,” Colonel Booka said.
“It improved our ability to respond together and deepened cooperation between Japan, Australia and the United States.”
The exercise was built around an island-based scenario reflecting the nations and archipelagos of the Indo-Pacific, allowing participating forces to rehearse expeditionary operations in a realistic environment.
Brigadier McLennan said the value of the exercise extended beyond its immediate tactical outcomes.
“By demonstrating our combined commitment and capability through exercises like this, we contribute to deterrence and help avoid conflict,” Brigadier McLennan said.
“We must train in as realistic a manner as possible so we are ready to operate together if required.”
