ROBERTSON BARRACKS, NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia -- U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, departed in support of Exercise Predator Walk, May 20 from Robertson Barracks, Palmerston, Northern Territory, Australia. 

“We are moving personnel, tactical vehicles and equipment to the training area as part of Predator Walk today,” said 1st Lt. William Roundtree, the 3rd platoon commander with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MRF-D and a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “We will be integrated with the Australian Army as an entire battalion, along with the ground combat element and [aviation] combat element.”

The exercise is a three-week long training evolution held at the Mount Bundey Training Area, Northern Territory, Australia. Working alongside the Marines will be members of the Australian Army to support the ground and aviation combat elements. 

The purpose of the bilateral training exercise is for Marines to become familiar with and improve their knowledge of the Australians technical and tactical procedures and standard operating procedures, which ultimately strengthens interoperability.

"Bilateral training will allow Marines to further hone their skills as infantrymen and to also learn what it will be like going into an operational theater working alongside international agencies, such as the Australian Army," said Roundtree. 

Marine Corps capabilities for the training evolution will include the ground combat element, aviation combat element, logistics combat element and the command element. The consolidated task force includes engineers, artillery, CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and all weapons organic to an infantry battalion. 

“While talking to my Australian Army counterpart, I have learned that we encounter the same stressors and they have the same issues in their daily operations, but our battle rhythm is the same,” said 1st Lt. Tracey Fetherson, the executive officer of Combat Logistics Detachment 1, MRF-D, and a native of Stafford, Virginia. “It’s been a very unique experience and we’ve learned a lot about how they operate day in and day out working with them and learning from them.”

The six-month MRF-D rotational deployment of Marines in Darwin demonstrates how the Marine Air-Ground Task Force is equipped and organized to carry out national objectives in cooperation with our international partners.

“This is a great opportunity for young Marines to get out there with their fellow Marines and experience how the Australian’s operate, so it’s a great opportunity for everyone that is supporting this operation,” said Roundtree.