Major Military Exercise Takes Place In Region

Over 3,000 soldiers have flocked to the Hinchinbrook region to engage in one of Australia’s largest war-fighting exercises, second only to Exercise Talisman Sabre.

The major event, titled the North Queensland Warfighter and Exercise Southern Jackaroo, will host soldiers and equipment from Army’s 3rd Brigade, the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

Thousands Of Troops Descend On Hinchinbrook

Commander 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McLennan said Townsville and Hinchinbrook will host the largest iteration of Exercise Southern Jackaroo to date with hundreds of Unites States Marine Corps and Japanese Ground Self Defence Force soldiers travelling to North Queensland to participate.

“Exercise Warfighter in its entirety is a long exercise which allows us to put our people, our processes, and our platforms under pressure in a rehearsal activity to see how they would hold up if it was a real thing,” explained Mr McLennan.

“The arrival of the Marine Corps Ospreys is an indication of how important the exercise is, how significant it is, and it gives an indication of the types of impact it will have.”

Vehicle moments commenced on Monday the 12th of May, however the exercises themselves will begin on Monday the 19th of May and conclude on Friday the 13th of June. Residents in Forrest Beach, Lucinda, Halifax, Ingham, Abergowrie, Mount Fox and adjacent to the Townsville Field Training Area, and Lavarack Barracks can expect to see ADF and partner nation forces training in and around these locations, including the coastal areas of the Hinchinbrook Shire.

“I'm very confident that during the training exercise we will be able to push ourselves as individuals, as teams, as teams of teams, to be able to lift our combined readiness as we rehearse for war,” Mr McLennan added.

Over the coming weeks, training activities will run into the night and may include the use of pyrotechnics, blank ammunition and helicopters and the movement of armoured vehicles with the Department of Defence asking the community to be aware, but not alarmed, by their presence.

Bruce Highway (Townsville to Ingham), Flinders Highway (Townsville to Mingela/Charters Towers) and Hervey Range Road (Townsville to TFTA) road users can also expect increased military traffic during this time. The ADF sincerely thanks the residents from the many communities hosting various components of the exercise for their continued support.

“Any opportunity for us as a brigade, for our soldiers and teams to work with the United States Marine Corps is always a real pleasure and it lifts our capability,” noted Mr McLennan.

“Few armies across the planet do this type of military training routinely, so it's a real opportunity to have it here in the north, and we will jealously guard it.”

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade during Exercise Brolga Run in June of 2024 at Townsville Field Training Area (Photo Credit: TPR Dana Millington)
The Australian Army's 3rd Brigade deployed to the Townsville Field Training Area and Ingham in 2024 (Photo Credit: CAPT Brittany Evans)

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