DIA welcomes New Zealander as 2nd Deputy Director for Commonwealth Int

DIA welcomes New Zealander as 2nd Deputy Director for Commonwealth Int: The Defense Intelligence Agency announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. John Howard, New Zealand Defence Forces, as the agency’s second deputy director for commonwealth integration.

SecDef Carter,Australian PM Turnbull Hold Talks;Latest OIR Air Campaign Results

On 18 January,US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and the new Australian Prime Minister,Malcolm Turnbull,laid a wreath together at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia.Later,the two leaders held defence cooperation talks at the Pentagon.Joining them were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and Australian Minister of Defence Marise Payne.They discussed recent developments in Iraq and Syria and the need to continue the close collaboration on the security issues in the Asia Pacific Region,the Pentagon said.Mr.Carter expressed appreciation for Australia's contributions to the anti-ISIL Operation Inherent Resolve coalition and their continued support in Afghanistan.He also said he looked forward to Australia's participation in the meeting of several OIR defence ministers in Paris on 20 January.
Besides Mr.Carter and Ms. Payne,those attending the Paris meeting will be defence ministers from Germany;France;the UK;the Netherlands; and Italy.Canada's defence minister,Harjit Sajjan,was not invited.Canada is pulling its CF-18 fighter jets out of OIR in accordance with a campaign promise made by the new Prime Minister,Justin Trudeau.A spokesman for Mr.Sajjan denied that was the reason Canada wasn't invited,saying they have often not been included in past meetings.*
On 19 January,the latest report on the OIR air campaign was issued.In Syria,attack and fighter aircraft conducted three airstrikes:
near Ayn Isa,2 sorties struck separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a fighting position;
near Hasakah,a sortie destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
In Iraq,21 airstrikes were conducted,among them being:
near Mosul,5 sorties struck an ISIL tactical unit and headquarters and destroyed a heavy machine gun,4 fighting positions and a cash collection point;
near Ramadi,9 sorties struck an ISIL tactical unit,damaged a petroleum truck and lubrication tank,and destroyed 2 fighting positions,a sniper position,a tactical vehicle and a tunnel entrance.
Those participating in the Syria raids were Australia;Bahrain;Belgium;Canada;France;Jordan;Saudi Arabia;Turkey;the UAE;the UK;and the US.Those taking part in the Iraq raids included Australia;Belgium;Canada;Denmark;France;Jordan;the Netherlands;the UK;and the US.*
In Iraq,Australian and New Zealand troops continued training the Iraqi Army to better combat Daesh,the Arab term for ISIL,at the Taji Military Complex.

Stretching Together:Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 Tests ANZUS Alliance plus Japan

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 has concluded after two weeks of high-end warfighting training by the US,Australia,New Zealand and Japan.It was the first time in the history of the biennial event that had featured the participation of the New Zealand and Japanese forces.New Zealand contributed 500 troops,as well as aircraft and ships.The Kiwis were embedded with the Australian Defence Forces;while the 40 Japanese personnel were embedded with the American troops.*
Another innovative aspect of the exercise was the staging of drills in two separate locations within Australia:the Northern Territory and Central Queensland.This presented a test of the Australia-New Zealand-US alliance's command and control capability and,in general,the ability to carry out two significant military operations simultaneously in the Asia-Pacific theatre.*
The US was represented by the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit,both out of their forward basing in Japan.As well,2 US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers flew a 44-hour round trip from Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana to target areas in the Northern Territory.This mission demonstrated the ability to project US Strategic Command's flexible,long-range global strike capability,and to synchronise strategic activities with a key ally in the US Pacific Command.
Massive amphibious operations were staged in Fog Bay,Northern Territory.These were the largest amphibious operations Australia has taken part in since World War II as the country endeavours to develop an independent amphibious warfare capacity.The operations included both seaborne landings and airborne assaults.Australia contributed 250 embarked troops from the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and the HMAS Choules amphibious ship.
Special Operations Forces from the US,Australia and New Zealand staged a night raid near Darwin,Northern Territory.
The total number of forces participating was more than 30,000 personnel;21 ships;3 submarines;and 200 aircraft.*
In the Fog Bay amphibious exercise on 11 July,the Battalion Landing Team,2nd Battalion,5th Marines,31st MEU took part.The landing was integrated down to the company level with the Royal Australian Regiment and saw the Marines and Aussies sharing the same vehicles,being supported by the same aircraft and working for the same objectives.
We must integrate down to the lowest tactical level,said 31st MEU commander Colonel Romin Dasmalchi.Planning together is not enough.If we are going to endure chaos together,we have to drill together and practice as often as we can.The only way to learn each other's tactics is to have the Marines and ADF personnel confront tactical tasks together.
The Fog Bay landing involved a three-pronged assault at Native Beach and Stingray Beach,plus an aerial insertion farther inland.For the Battalion Landing Team specifically,applying combat power across multiple frontages has a massive dislocating effect on the enemy.Not only does it isolate the enemy and reduce his ability to muntually support;it allows us to rapidly generate tempo and momentum,added Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Fiscus,commanding officer of BLT 2nd Bn,5th Marines.
Once the beachhead was secured,the forces pressed inland to secure secondary objectives.That done,they assumed defensive positions for the night.For the Marines,it was a dynamic,multifaceted amphibious assault and sustained, combined arms live fire exercise and maneuver ashore with their Australian partners.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 Gains Significance From China's Posturing

The biennial US-Australian military exercise Talisman Sabre 2015,being held in mid-July this year,is always a notable event in the Asia Pacific region because of its scale alone,but this time it takes on added significance because of China's widely perceived belligerence over its expansive South China Sea territorial claims,particularly in light of its militarisation of the Spratly Islands,where it has swiftly been building reefs up into islands and constructing military airstrips on them-and a PLA Navy port on Hainan Island as well,where three ballistic missile submarines and two guided missile corvettes have been observed.Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 is even getting an extra participant this year in that Japan will be take part for the first time,although in a small way,sending just 40 troops to exercise only with the US Marines,and not with Australia's defence forces.*
Talisman Sabre 2015 is the largest combined military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defence Force,the Australian Department of Defence said in a Media Release.It is the principal Australian and United States bilateral training activity focused on the planning and conduct of mid-intensity 'high-end' warfighting.New Zealand and Japan will also participate with their defence forces.A New Zealand contingent of over 500 personnel,including ships and aircraft,will operate as part of the Australian forces.
Australia's Chief of Joint Operations,Vice Admiral David Johnston,said the inclusion of the New Zealand and Japanese forces would enable the ADF to deepen its engagement with close defence partners in the region but did not change the bilateral nature of the exercises between Australia and the US.The primary aim of the exercise remains improving Australia-US readiness and the way we operate together through combined training,VADM Johnston explained.*
More than 28,000 US and Australian personnel will participate in drills held across Australia,US Pacific Command noted,in an effort to increase their ability to defend Australia's national interests.*
On 27 May,US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter laid out the US point of view on China's recent island-building campaign on reefs in the Spratly Islands chain of the South China Sea.Speaking at a change of command ceremony for US Pacific Command in Hawaii,Mr.Carter minced no words:
First,we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes and an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by any claimant.We also oppose any further militarisation of disputed features.Second,and there should be no mistake.The US will fly,sail,and operate wherever international law allows,as we do all around the world.
With its actions in the South China Sea,China is out of step with both international norms that underscore the Asia Pacific's security architecture,and the regional consensus in favour of noncoercive approaches to this and other long-standing disputes.China's actions are bringing countries in the region together in new ways.And they're increasing the demand for American engagement in the Asia Pacific.We're going to meet it.We will remain the principal security power in the Asia Pacific for decdes to come,Mr.Carter promised.