6 June 2024
The Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade deployed to the Townsville Field Training Area and Ingham to conduct Exercise Southern Jackaroo.
It was conducted over two weeks simultaneously with Exercise Brolga Run, a multilateral combined arms activity with personnel from the ADF, US Army and Marine Corps, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Commander 3rd Brigade Brigadier David McCammon said the integrated forces performed a range of tactical tasks, “engaging with the enemy, and showing how capable we are working with our partners, it’s an amazing opportunity”.
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Vice-Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Hiroki Kobayashi, said the multilateral exercises were important because of potential threats in the Pacific region.
“Improving our interoperability creates a US, Japan and Australian partnership,” Lieutenant General Kobayashi said.
“It establishes a stable security environment in the Indo-Pacific region to be ready in the conduct of deterrence and response.”
Brigadier McCammon said it was important for the Australian Army to train with its allies and partners.
“We focus a lot on individual skills, platoon and company-level activities, which we can do better than anyone else,” Brigadier McCammon said.
“When exposed to larger armies, we see how to conduct things on a much greater scale; we get an idea of big brigade and division movements and how to sustain that.
“It is an opportunity to understand each other and our cultures, and work through that to become better partners at the higher levels.”
US Army Lieutenant Colonel James Carrier praised the relationship between the US and Australian Armies.
“Ever since I’ve been in the Army, the Australian Army has been a partner that we’ve worked hand in hand with,” Lieutenant Colonel Carrier said.
“I see that relationship continuing into the future; wherever there’s a conflict, we’ll work together.”
