Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

U.S. Air Force Col. William Freeman, 353rd Special Operations Group commander, works with members of the Australian army during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 29, 2015. The purpose of Talisman Sabre is to improve Australian-U.S. readiness for a wide variety of contingencies, strengthen interoperability, maximize combined training opportunities and conduct maritime prepositioning and logistics operations in maritime and littoral training areas of Australia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

A member of the Australian army 2nd Commando Regiment lands after jumping from an MC-130H Combat Talon II from the 1st Special Operations Squadron during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 29, 2015. Exercises like Talisman Sabre provide effective and intense training to ensure our forces are capable, interoperable, and deployable on short notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

Australian and U.S. military members work together to decide the best place for a drop zone during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 29, 2015. The Australian-U.S. alliance remains a critical defense relationship and a central pillar of each nation’s national security strategy, based on shared values and a common commitment to peace and security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

A U.S. Air Force combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron attempts to gain communication with U.S. and Australian partner units to establish a drop zone for equipment landing during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 29, 2015. The Australian-U.S. alliance continues to be a model of close cooperation and trust in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

An Australian army S-70A Black Hawk begins its landing during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia June 29, 2015. Exercises such as Talisman Sabre 2015 provide realistic, relevant training which is necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

A crew chief from the 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron marshals an MC-130H Combat Tallon II as they get ready for takeoff in the Northern Territory of Australia, July 1, 2015. Exercises such as Talisman Sabre 2015 provide realistic, relevant training which is necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

A U.S. Air Force Special Tactics combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron waits as an Australian army S-70A Black Hawk takes off after extracting personnel during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 30, 2015. Not a day goes by where military forces from Australia and the U.S. aren’t somehow working side-by-side to ensure peace and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

Members of the U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, practice a rapid infiltration of a flight line with the help of U.S. Air Force loadmasters from the 1st Special Operations Squadron during exercise Talisman Sabre in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 30, 2015. Exercises such as Talisman Sabre offer a uniquely complex and challenging multinational environment for our forces to hone their skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephen G. Eigel)

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Talisman Sabre '15 kicks off in Australia

Published July 14, 2015
By Senior Airman Stephen Eigel
18th Wing Public Affairs

DARWIN, Australia -- The 353rd Special Operations Group along with several other U.S. and Australian military units began the Talisman Sabre exercise in the Northern Territory of Australia that runs June 25 – July 17.

Talisman Sabre helps to provide effective and intense training to ensure our forces are capable, interoperable, and deployable on short notice.

Though it is early in the exercise, the units have already done several missions learning and growing as a cohesive team.

Throughout Talisman Sabre, Australian and U.S. military will train together to sustain a stable security environment and regional order rooted in economic openness, respect for international norms, standards, rules and laws, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for universal rights and freedoms.

Additional information regarding this exercise is available on the U.S. Pacific Fleet website at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/talisman-sabre/ or from the Australian Defense Force site at http://www.defence.gov.au/exercises/ts15.