Words Captain Thomas H. de Vries, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin Photos Barrie Collins
In the heart of the Australian Outback, US Marines, Australian soldiers, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers assembled and successfully conducted Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2021 in June. The trilateral exercise, held over a twoweek period, was a tangible demonstration of multinational interoperability, where the forces worked through logistical and cultural challenges that tested the ability of each of the militaries to mutually support one another. The exercise began with an opening ceremony at Robertson Barracks, home of the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade, where commanders addressed a formation of Australian, Japanese and US troops. They spoke on themes of enhanced cooperation between each force and the importance of building deep, personal and professional relationships with one another. To overcome communication barriers, the force integrated teams of military interpreters throughout the formations in order to best facilitate understanding amongst each other. 68
CONTACT Air Land & Sea – Issue 71 – September 2021
