Foreign troops arriving for Talisman Sabre

International forces participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre, Australia’s largest bilateral training activity with the United States, will arrive into Australia throughout June and July.

FILE PHOTO (2017): 2RAR soldiers depart the well deck of USS Green Bay in combat rubber raiding craft during Talisman Saber 17. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sarah Myers.

Participating foreign military personnel from the United States, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom will undertake 14-days mandatory quarantine in approved Defence managed facilities. France, India and Indonesia will participate as observer nations.

Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, said the scale of this year’s exercise will be reduced due to COVID-19, with around 17,000 personnel expected to participate.

“Around 1,800 foreign military personnel will arrive in Australia for this year’s exercise. We will also have part of the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin participating, as well as naval and air assets exercising exclusively off-shore,” Lieutenant General Bilton said.

“The ADF, together with our United States and visiting partner nations, are committed to delivering a safe exercise, not just for the personnel involved, but the community as well.

“The exercise is fundamental to our alliance with the United States and critical to maintaining ADF combat readiness.”

The exercise will take place at a range of Defence bases and non-Defence training areas, predominantly across central and northeast Queensland, but also off the east coast of Australia.

“Talisman Sabre would not be possible without the cooperation and ongoing support of the local community, councils, state authorities – including Chief Health Officers – and traditional owners,” Lieutenant General Bilton said.

“Defence will keep the public well-informed of planned activities and movements, implement COVIDSafe plans agreed to with the states and territories to mitigate the risks of COVID-19.”

With agreement from relevant state and territory authorities, the majority of international forces will quarantine in either Bladin Village in the Northern Territory or ADF managed hotels in Queensland. A small number will also quarantine in ADF managed hotels in New South Wales.

International forces will arrive gradually, in tranches of up to several hundred, from early June to mid-July. All international forces entering Australia will comply with mandatory quarantine and travel requirements.

These include:

• Presenting a negative COVID-19 PCR test before departure to Australia;
• Mandatory 14-day quarantine in facilities approved by the relevant state or territory Chief Health Officer;
• COVID-19 testing on arrival and before exiting their mandatory 14-day quarantine period; and
• Daily health checks that include screening for COVID-19 symptoms.
• No military member entering Australia will take the place of an Australian returning from overseas.

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