Pacific Perspective:US Marines Return to Australia

On 6 February 2021 the Australian Department of Defence announced that members of the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 2021 would soon begin arriving.The arrival is to be staggered over five months,with 200-500 Marines arriving each month,bringing the total force up to 2200 by June.The number has been reduced somewhat from the 2500 ceiling because of COVID-19 concerns.Upon arrival, the Marines must quarantine for 14 days.* The 2020 rotation had ended in October.Australian Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said: The ability for this year's MRF-D to go ahead under challenging global circumstances,is a testament to the endurance and adaptability of the Australia-US Alliance.* Ms.Reynolds went on to note that the MRF-D and Australian Defence Force will conduct comprehensive training,to include humanitarian assistance,security operations and high-end live-fire exercises.A highlight of the year will be training with other partner countries during Talisman Sabre 21,COVID-19 permitting.She also made a point of mentioning that: I thank the Northern Territory Government for their continued support in facilitating these strategically important activities for our nation.* MRF-D is designed to increase interoperability with the ADF, engage with regional partners and Allies, and provide a forward-deployed force capable of responding to crisis within the Indo-Pacific Region,US Indo-Pacific Command said. Last year's culminating activity was Exercise Koolendong, which demonstrated the combined Australian and US readiness to respond to crises up to and including high-end warfighting.Training in the Top End, the participants worked up from platoon-level attacks to battalion sized events.Notable was the integration of ADF artillery and aviation assets with the entire Marine Air-Ground Task Force,as well as the first-ever flight of the Boeing Insitu RQ-21A UAV within Australia. Commanding officer for MRF-D is COL David Banning USMC.MRF-D 21 marks the 10th anniversary of the critical, globally significant rotation.* The RQ-21A Blackjack is a small tactical UAV with a range of 58 mi/93 km and a top speed of 100 mph/170 kmh, rising to a ceiling of 19,500 ft/5900 m.* Boeing (BA)