THE TENSION: US Navy, Marines Storm Australian Beach for Talisman Saber 2009

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 15, 2009) Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 10, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, Det. Western Pacific, departs Freshwater Bay to return to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) to embark Marines and equipment supporting Talisman Saber 2009. Talisman Saber is a joint exercise between the U.S. and the Australian Defense Force that includes participation from more than 20,000 U.S. and 10,000 Australian personnel. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio.)

QUEENSLAND, Australia (July 16, 2009) Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Kevin McClure, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit 1, checks the line attached to a mock improvised explosive device during a training exercise at the Port of Gladstone, in Queensland, Australia. EOD-1 is participating in Talisman Saber 2009, a biennial joint military exercise between the U.S. and Australia focusing on operational and tactical interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Maurice Dayao.)

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 15, 2009) Seaman Nyja Allen, from New York assigned to Beach Master Unit (BMU) 1, directs Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 21, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, Det. Western Pacific as it comes ashore at Freshwater Bay during a training exercise supporting Talisman Saber 2009. Talisman Saber is a joint exercise between the U.S. and the Australian Defense Force that includes participation from more than 20,000 U.S. and 10,000 Australian personnel. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio.)

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 7, 2009) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) disembark Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 21, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, Det. Western Pacific, during a training exercise at Freshwater Bay supporting Talisman Saber 2009. Talisman Saber is a joint exercise between the U.S. and the Australian Defense Force that includes participation from more than 20,000 U.S. and 10,000 Australian personnel. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio.)

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 15, 2009) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), move out on patrol in light armored vehicles during an exercise at Freshwater Bay supporting Talisman Saber 2009. Talisman Saber is a joint exercise between the U.S. and the Australian Defense Force that includes participation from more than 20,000 U.S. and 10,000 Australian personnel. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio.)

Focus On Defense:

QUEENSLAND, Australia, July 18, 2009 -- The combined forces of the U.S. military and Australian Defense Forces landed on Freshwater Bay beach in Queensland to commence the land phase of Talisman Saber 2009. After days of practice and battle preparations, the combined force made the landing.

"We secured the beach to allow other forces to land," said Marine 1st Lt. Marco Rossi, executive officer for Company L Battalion Landing Team 3/5. "We will also be the first to push inland and continue the attack while other elements come in for support."

Vehicles that could not float to the shore arrived aboard the U.S. Navy's landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicles. Australian and U.S. Marines from USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Denver (LPD 9) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46), as well as the HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Darwin made the landing to begin the ground battle of the exercise.

"We arrived with the LCACs, dropped our trucks on the beach, and we provide security until we move out," said Cpl. Nathan Blackwood, Weapons Company 3/5.

"We have a lot better traction here than anywhere else," said Lance Cpl. Alex Ciborowski, with Weapons Company BLT 3/5. "I've never had the opportunity to train with Australians, so I want to see how that goes."

Marines from Company L arrived on the shore of Freshwater Bay beach on amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) to push on to Samuel Hill, the exercise objective.

"We have ten days of operations trying to find bad guys," said Gunnery Sgt. Ed Brickert Weapons Company BLT 3/5. "We are a combination of Reservists and Australian Army. We have our work cut out for us, experience has shown that the Aussies are pretty good at camouflage and concealment. It's their home territory."

Exercise Talisman Saber is the biennial combined training activity designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations, which will help improve bilateral combat readiness and interoperability.

The mock battle will place the Marines in various scenarios for the next few days. Umpires or referees from both nations' services will administer the exercise and its progress.

(Report by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jose Lopez Jr.)