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LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you for sharing the news from military.com my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell that after "years of a slow buildup, the Marine Corps will soon begin sending 2,500 leathernecks to Australia annually.
Marine Rotational Force-Darwin will increase in size by about 1,000 troops "as soon as practicable," according to a State Department news release.
Smaller contingents of Marines have been spending half of every year in Australia's Northern Territory since 2012. Now, top U.S. and Aussie officials say it's time to bring the rotation to its full capacity.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Australian Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop this week in California.
The four discussed the importance of U.S.-Aussie defense cooperation, particularly "through full implementation of Force Posture Initiatives between U.S. and Australian forces in Australia," the State Department release reads.
"They emphasized the value of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin and Enhanced Air Cooperation for improving the interoperability of U.S. and Australian defense forces," the release states. "The United States and Australia highlighted their commitment to raising the number of Marines rotating to Darwin to the full complement of 2,500 as soon as practicable."
Marine officials did not immediately respond to questions about how soon the full force could deploy Down Under."

FYI Sgt Douglas Berger MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. CPL Patrick Brewbaker Cpl David Beck Col Joel Anderson LCpl Emanuel W. LCpl Steve Wininger Cpl Joshua CaldwellMaj Lawrence Celli Cpl Hans Comprix Sgt Justin DavisCrowe GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad SPC Americo Garcia Sgt (Join to see) Cpl (Join to see) LtCol Dave Jonas Sgt Jay JonesCWO3 (Join to see) Cpl Kelly Kendall
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Sgt Jay Jones
Sgt Jay Jones
6 y
If memory serves me correctly Australia was one of the locations that African-American troops were not allowed to visit during R&R while I serviced in Vietnam. I do know that when our Naval forces would do port calls in Iceland, African Americans were not allowed to go ashore. I sure hope these issues have been resolved.
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LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
6 y
I concur with you my friend Sgt Jay Jones.
Since the USMC is expanding the number of marines rotaeing to Australia I would expect that all races are welcomed to Australia by now.
Cynthia Croft can you shed any light on the current situation of how black service members would be treated in Australia.
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SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
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Great news, especially good since China will not be happy.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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Great news for those wanting to join.
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