Marine Rotational Force – Darwin Explained

Unit Name:	Marine Rotational Force – Darwin
Country:	United States
Branch:	United States Marine Corps
Type:	Marine Air-Ground Task Force
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Current Commander:	Colonel B. Sullivan^[1]

Marine Rotational Force – Darwin is a marine air-ground task force of the United States Marine Corps based at Robertson Barracks and at RAAF Base Darwin, near the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia.

History

On 16 November 2011, the Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, and U.S. president Barack Obama announced that starting in 2012 U.S. Marines would deploy to Darwin on a rotational basis for about six months to conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Force in the Northern Territory.^{[2] [3]}

The first rotation of about 200 US Marines deployed to Australia in April 2012.^[4] On 14 June 2013, the prime minister announced that in 2014 the size of the deployment would increase to 1,150 U.S. Marines, to be based at Robertson Barracks.^[5]

During the 2023 rotation, MRF-D suffered a tragedy when one of their MV-22 Osprey helicopters crashed during a training event, resulting in the loss of three Marines.^[6]

, it was reported that up to 2,500 Marines had been stationed at Darwin each year.^[7]

Activities

During their six-month deployment, Marines train with their Australian counterparts in live fire exercises at various locations, including Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA).^[7] This builds camaraderie and combat effectiveness between the two coalition forces. Both forces train the other in their military methods which include artillery fire, infantry tactics, communications equipment, and other various military training.

The current composition of MRF-D's cyclical nature follows the wet and dry seasonal weather patterns of Darwin. During the dry season, the MAGTF trains and during the wet season, the Ground Equipment Staging Program (GESP) works to maintain key equipment. The newly created Marine Coordination Element (MCE) operates year-round to maintain relationships and seamless transition.

In September 2021, after residents of Timber Creek were shown around BFTA during Exercise Koolendong, MRF-D commanding officer Colonel David Banning expressed his appreciation to the traditional owners for their hospitality and ongoing support.^[8] The Marines have built good relationships with the local Aboriginal Australian people at BFTA.^[7]

Assets

• Key
  • GCE = Ground Combat Element
  • ACE = Aviation Combat Element
  • LCE = Logistic Combat Element
• MRF-D (April – October 2012)
  • GCE – Fox Company, 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines
• MRF-D (April – October 2013)
  • GCE – Lima Company, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines^[9]
• MRF-D (April – October 2014)
  • • • GCE – 1st Battalion 5th Marines ACE – Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 (HMH-463) with Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions^[10]
  • LCE – Combat Logistics Regiment 3 (CLR-3)^[11]
• MRF-D (April – October 2015)
  • GCE – 1st Battalion 4th Marines^[12]
  • ACE – HMH-463 with Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions^[12]
• MRF-D (April – October 2016)
  • GCE – 1st Battalion 1st Marines^[13]
  • ACE – Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) with Bell UH-1Y Venoms.^[13]
• MRF-D 17.2 (April – October 2017)
  • GCE – 3rd Battalion 4th Marines^[14]
  • ACE – Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) with Bell AH-1Z Vipers, and Bell UH-1Y Venoms.^[15] Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) with Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys.^[16]
• MRF-D 18.2 (April – October 2018)
  • GCE – 2nd Battalion 4th Marines^[17]
  • GCE – Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion 11th Marines^[18]
  • ACE – Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) with Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys.^[19]
• MRF-D 19.2 (April – October 2019)
  • GCE – 1st Battalion, 1st Marines^[20]
  • GCE – India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines
  • ACE – Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363) with Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) with Bell AH-1Z Vipers, and Bell UH-1Y Venoms
  • LCE – Combat Logistics Battalion 1
• MRF-D 20.2 (April - October 2020)
  • GCE - 3rd Battalion 7th Marines
  • GCE - Kilo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines
  • ACE - Detachment, VMU-3
  • LCE - Combat Logistics Battalion 5

Notes and References

1. Web site: MRF-D CO. U.S. Marines. 10 July 2019.
2. Prime Minister . Australia-United States Force Posture Initiatives . Prime Minister . https://web.archive.org/web/20111122083953/http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/australia-united-states-force-posture-initiatives . 22 November 2011 . 16 November 2011. dead.
3. Web site: Gillard, Obama detail US troop deployment . . 16 November 2011 . 9 February 2024.
4. Prime Minister . United States Marine Corps personnel begin first rotational deployment to northern Australia . Prime Minister . https://web.archive.org/web/20130420212125/http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/united-states-marine-corps-personnel-begin-first-rotational-deployment-northern-austral . 20 April 2013 . 3 April 2012. dead.
5. Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Science and Personnel . Joint Media Release – Australia and the United States progress 1150 Marine Corps rotational deployment to northern Australia from 2014 . Department of Defence Ministers . https://web.archive.org/web/20150322164807/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2013/06/14/prime-minister-minister-for-defence-and-minister-for-defence-science-and-personnel-joint-media-release-australia-and-the-united-states-progress-1150-marine-corps-rotational-deploy/ . 22 March 2015 . 14 June 2013. dead.
6. News: Dumas . Daisy . 2023-08-29 . US marines killed in aircraft crash off northern Australia named as recovery effort continues . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-12-08 . 0261-3077.
7. Web site: O'Brien . Kristy . The unlikely alliance between defence forces and traditional owners transforming Timber Creek . . 6 February 2024 . 9 February 2024.
8. Web site: Bradshaw Traditional Owners welcome troops . . 24 September 2021 . 10 February 2024.
9. Web site: The Marines are back . Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS). 1 December 2016.
10. Web site: Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2014 begins to arrive Down Under. DVIDS. 1 December 2016.
11. Web site: USNS Bobo brings MRF-D Marines and gear Down Under. DVIDS. 1 December 2016.
12. Web site: Marines arrive Down Under to train with Australian counterparts. DVIDS. 1 December 2016.
13. Web site: Marines depart U.S. for next Australian rotation. Marine Corps Times. 1 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150623102929/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140324/NEWS/303240051/Marines-depart-U-S-next-Australian-rotation. 23 June 2015. dead.
14. Web site: Marines Arrive Marine Rotational Force Darwin. DVIDS. 14 March 2017.
15. Web site: Air Superiority: Marines offload AH-1 Cobras in Darwin. DVIDS. 1 April 2017.
16. Web site: MV-22 Osprey Trans-Pacific B-roll Part 1. DVIDS. 1 April 2017.
17. Web site: Marines Land Down Under MRF-D 2018. DVIDS. 23 April 2018.
18. Web site: Marine Rotational Force - Darwin 2018 Conduct Indirect Fire Support Exercise. DVIDS. 8 April 2018.
19. Web site: marines-mv-22-osprey-tilrotor-aircraft-arrive-top-end. DVIDS. 31 May 2018.
20. Web site: Marines Are Bringing More Air Power Than Ever To Annual Training In Australia. Stars & Stripes. 11 April 2019.