Sgt. Trey Leonard, a rifleman assigned to Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, takes aim during Balikatan training in Palawan, Philippines, May 5, 2026. (Caleb Goodwin/U.S. Marine Corps)
The annual six-month deployment of U.S. Marines to northern Australia is underway following multinational military training in the Philippines, according to the U.S. Embassy in Canberra.
Members of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin began arriving in Australia’s Northern Territory in mid-March, the Marine Corps said in a release provided by the embassy Wednesday.
About 2,000 Marines make up this year’s rotational force, spokesman 1st Lt. Chase Fortier told Stars and Stripes by email that morning.
U.S. Marines have deployed to Australia on six-month rotations each year since 2012 as part of expanding defense cooperation between the two allies.
The lead unit for this year’s deployment is the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and commanded by Col. George Flynn.
The Marines participated in ANZAC Day commemorations last month and recently trained with Australian and French forces, including drills in New Caledonia, according to the release.
This year’s rotational force is the first to earn certification as a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, a designation intended to prepare units for crisis response operations.
“Being the first rotation of MRF-D to be certified … is an incredible statement on the capability of the force,” Flynn said in the release. “Achieving this milestone highlights our commitment as a crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific.”
The certification process included pre-deployment training in which MV-22B Osprey and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft flew troops and equipment more than 1,800 miles, roughly the distance between Darwin and the Philippines, according to the Marines.
The force also trained for scenarios including embassy reinforcement, civilian evacuation, casualty evacuation, medical support and expeditionary advanced base operations, the release said.
The certification was completed during the annual Balikatan exercise in the Philippines, which involved about 17,000 troops from the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand from April 20 to May 8.
During Balikatan, the rotational force participated in counter-landing operations, aircraft and personnel recovery drills, supply delivery missions and a multinational airfield seizure exercise, according to the Marines.
