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U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Stalnaker with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, Australian Army Sgt. Emmaly Hall and People's Liberation Army Lt. Liu Ming inspect edible green ants during Exercise Kowari 15 in the Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Stalnaker with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, Australian Army Sgt. Emmaly Hall and People's Liberation Army Lt. Liu Ming inspect edible green ants during Exercise Kowari 15 in the Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Stalnaker with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, Australian Army Sgt. Emmaly Hall and People's Liberation Army Lt. Liu Ming inspect edible green ants during Exercise Kowari 15 in the Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Stalnaker with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, Australian Army Sgt. Emmaly Hall and People's Liberation Army Lt. Liu Ming inspect edible green ants during Exercise Kowari 15 in the Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

Australian Army, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and People's Liberation Army personnel disembark a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin in the Northern Territory for Exercise Kowari 2015, Aug. 31, 2015.

Australian Army, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and People's Liberation Army personnel disembark a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin in the Northern Territory for Exercise Kowari 2015, Aug. 31, 2015. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

U.S. Marines, U.S. and Australian Army soldiers and People's Liberation Army personnel move to the survival training camp during Exercise Kowari 15 in the Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015. Kowari is environmental survival training hosted by Australia that includes the U.S., Australia and China.

U.S. Marines, U.S. and Australian Army soldiers and People's Liberation Army personnel move to the survival training camp during Exercise Kowari 15 in the Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 31, 2015. Kowari is environmental survival training hosted by Australia that includes the U.S., Australia and China. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

Australian Army soldier Pvt. Caleb Cupples, from left, People's Liberation Army Cpl. Chao Luo and U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Stalnaker with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, listen as a Larrakia Aboriginal Nation elder speaks during the Exercise Kowari 15 opening ceremony at Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Aug. 29, 2015.

Australian Army soldier Pvt. Caleb Cupples, from left, People's Liberation Army Cpl. Chao Luo and U.S. Marine Cpl. Tyler Stalnaker with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, listen as a Larrakia Aboriginal Nation elder speaks during the Exercise Kowari 15 opening ceremony at Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Aug. 29, 2015. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

A U.S. Marine rides in a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, 463, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin while flying over the Daly River, Northern Territory, Australia, during Exercise Kowari 15, Aug. 31, 2015. Kowari is environmental survival training hosted by Australia that includes the U.S., Australia and China.

A U.S. Marine rides in a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, 463, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin while flying over the Daly River, Northern Territory, Australia, during Exercise Kowari 15, Aug. 31, 2015. Kowari is environmental survival training hosted by Australia that includes the U.S., Australia and China. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, Australian Army and People's Liberation Army personnel participate in a team-building exercise before Exercise Kowari 15 at Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Aug. 28, 2015. Kowari is trilateral environmental survival training hosted by Australia that includes the U.S., Australia and China.

U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, Australian Army and People's Liberation Army personnel participate in a team-building exercise before Exercise Kowari 15 at Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin, Northern Territory, Aug. 28, 2015. Kowari is trilateral environmental survival training hosted by Australia that includes the U.S., Australia and China. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force)

Ten U.S. Marines and soldiers are in the Australian Outback for Kowari 15, a trilateral exercise with Chinese and Australian forces that focuses on survival in harsh environments.

Kowari, which runs through Sept. 12 and first took place last year, provides participants with an understanding of the basic principles, procedures, techniques and equipment to survive severe conditions, the Australian army said in a statement.

The 30 participants were flown to the remote Northern Territory by Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters after a week of team-building activities that began Aug. 29 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin. Marines and soldiers have been divided into groups to be trained by North West Mobile Force, an Australian army regiment with close ties to the rugged Outback. Instructors will teach survival, tool-making and navigation techniques.

“Some people die within hours of being in a survival situation, while others will endure unbelievable hardships and live for months until rescued,” senior instructor David Sudholz said. “It boils down to what is in your head and how you use it.”

Kowari 15 also aims to build up international relationships.

“This is much more than just a field exercise. It has significant international engagement outcomes for each of our three nations,” Australian Defence Force Brig. Damian Cantwell, Kowari 15 commander, said in a U.S. Pacific command statement. “It’s an opportunity to build mutual trust, friendships, cooperation and understanding both at the individual level and the international level.”

kidd.aaron@stripes.com Twitter: @kiddaaron

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