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SAR Operations 
Involved in vertical replenishments and personnel transfers, search and rescue (SAR) pilots and swimmers prowled the skies ensuring the safety of all personnel involved in amphibious events involving Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM8) and Australian S-70A Blackhawk helicopter operations.

“It is very important to keep our pilots and swimmers in the air during exercises like this,” said U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Jerome A. Gussow. “With helicopters in the air, LCACs on the water, and soldiers and sailors on the ship conducting the mission, it is important to have us ready to help if the need arises.”

The U.S. Navy aircrews for two MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters aboard the USS Boxer worked with more than 2,000 personnel in theBoxerAmphibious Ready Group (ARG) Units that included HMAS Manoora, HMAS Ballarat, Assault Craft Unit 5, Australian 5th Aviation Regiment, the Australian 1st Armored Regiment, and the USS John Paul Jones.

“Our basic mission was to be prepared to salvage any craft or rescue any personnel in an optimal amount of time,” said U.S. Navy Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic Mike Smith. “The faster we respond to a casualty the higher the percentage of survival for our fellow service members.”

Community Service Projects
During the exercise, U.S. soldiers, sailors, and airmen cleared rubbish and restored the grounds of the Rockhampton Special School in South Rockhampton. “The troops have been very enthusiastic about working on this community service project, they loved working with such great kids at the special school,” said U.S. Navy Chief Sue Ball.

In Townsville, U.S. sailors from the USS Boxer and USS John Paul Jones performed much-needed landscaping, maintenance, cleaning, and patio paving at the facilities of the Cootharinga Society. The society supports those with multiple disabilities. Society members help residents enhance their independence and involvement in the community.

Once the work around the facilities was complete, the sailors brought cheer and companionship to the residents, some of whom enjoyed listening to sea stories and socializing with the sailors, while others watched as sailors performed karaoke. Staff members treated sailors to a barbeque lunch.

“It’s wonderful that American sailors have contributed their time to support our society,” said Susan Thinee, a house manager for the Cootharinga Society. “The Navy has once again proven to be great ambassadors and humanitarians for their country.”

Conclusion
“TALISMAN SABER is a key exercise in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility and a demonstration of support and solidarity between two nations committed to democracy, liberty, and human rights,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas J. Culora, USS Boxer’s commanding officer. “It is a tangible expression of mutual respect and pledge of assistance.”

“It was a sincere pleasure to operate with members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army,” added Capt. Culora. “I was tremendously impressed by their professionalism, energy, and ‘can do’ attitude. I think our entire group learned a great deal. The experience has made us all more professional.”

This exercise provided a unique venue for Australian and U.S. forces to strengthen their bond and increase the strong interoperability between the two allies. Both forces learned innovative ways to accomplish a wide array of missions.

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Commander, Combined Task Force for the exercise, said the exercise “was a great opportunity for U.S. and Australian forces to challenge ourselves in a complex and highly relevant scenario involving war at sea, expeditionary warfare, land maneuver, coalition humanitarian assistance, and United Nations humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping. The challenges of a coalition and U.N. environment and meshing interoperability with flexible power projection were met, while maintaining safety and environmental compliance.”

Australian Maj.-Gen. Mark Kelly, Deputy Commander of the Combined Task Force, said the readiness and interoperability demonstrated during the exercise is crucial to any operation. “The work we’ve accomplished together as a coalition made us one team.”

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