US Marines head home after six months down under

The 2024 Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) has this week departed Australia, concluding the 13th annual rotation of United States Marine Corps (USMC) to Northern Australia. The Australia–US alliance is central to Australia’s strategic and security arrangements. The MRF-D deployment helps maintain a secure and resilient region, strengthens interoperability between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the USMC, and provides a platform for regional engagement. During this year’s deployment, approximately 2,500 US military personnel conducted a comprehensive range of training activities with the ADF and regional partners, including humanitarian assistance, security operations and high-end, live-fire exercises. Commander Headquarters Northern Command, Captain Mitchell Livingstone, said this iteration was an outstanding success in terms of the number of collective aims met. “The time the USMC spends in the Top End is an extremely busy period in terms of the number of complex and challenging exercises they participate in,” Captain Livingstone said. “2024 was no exception and as we farewell this rotation of Marines, we look forward to welcoming the next rotation when it arrives in early 2025. Through MRF-D, and the various other US Force Posture Initiatives, the ADF and our partner nations continue to contribute to peace, prosperity, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.” MRF-D participation in exercises such as Southern Jackaroo, Bhakti Kanyini AusIndo, Super Garuda Shield, Pitch Black and Operation Render Safe, demonstrating military interoperability between the USMC and ADF, as well as with regional partners. Commanding Officer MRF-D, Colonel Brian Mulvihill, said the time marines and sailors spent in Darwin was rewarding both professionally and personally. “The Australian people have welcomed us like family, and our training with the Australian Defence Force has been tough and realistic, which has enhanced our unit readiness,” Colonel Mulvihill said. “The bond with our Australian Defence Force brothers and sisters is as strong as it has ever been. Through interoperability with the Australian Defence Force, their professionalism and expertise have made our units more ready to contribute to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.” The USMC will return to the Northern Territory in early 2025 for the 14th MRF-D rotation, as part of the 25-year commitment established by the United States Force Posture Initiatives. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]