24 July 2023
Special operations force elements from Australia, Papua New Guinea and the United States came together at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney from July 10 – 20 to prepare for Exercise Talisman Sabre.
For some, it was a whole new experience, while others took the opportunity to renew old friendships.
Master Sergeant M, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, said arriving in Sydney for force integration training was like coming home.
“This is my third Talisman Sabre,” Master Sergeant M said.
“I’ve worked a lot with 2nd Commando Regiment and with the Special Air Service Regiment, where I did an exchange posting.
“The rest of my team are all new to Australia, but they’ll get plenty of time here because Australian and US special forces work closely together.”
In preparation for a busy few weeks, Green Berets from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted static-line and military free-fall parachuting and sniper training with Australian soldiers from 2nd Commando Regiment.
Other elements from 2nd Commando Regiment started their final preparations with an early morning swim.
A US Air Force MC-130J Commando aircraft from the 353rd Special Operations Wing in Okinawa, Japan, dispatched the commandos via a static-line parachute insertion into the chilly waters of Jervis Bay in southern NSW.
Officer Commanding Alpha Commando Company, Major M, said he was looking forward to the jump, as he prepared at RAAF Base Richmond.
“As a strike-and-recovery capability, we need to be ready for any scenario on Talisman Sabre,” Major M said.
“We’re all looking forward to the challenges ahead, and working closely with the US special forces teams out here to exchange skills and continue to learn each other’s training, techniques and procedures.”
Six PNG Defence Force soldiers from the Long Range Reconnaissance Unit (LRRU) were also preparing at Holsworthy Barracks.
Officer Commanding 1st Commando Company, Major J, said 1st Commando Regiment worked closely with the LRRU in PNG, so getting to host them and work up to Talisman Sabre side-by-side was a great opportunity.
“We’ll deploy up to north Queensland in the coming days and conduct a variety of training serials together," he said.
“I think for the LRRU team this is their first Talisman Sabre working with us, so it’s all going to be new … but we’re all in the same boat because nobody knows what’s coming at us in the Talisman Sabre scenario.”
Special operations training activities are being conducted in NSW, Queensland and offshore.
