The Australian Army, United States Marine Corps (USMC) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) are removing the barriers to success in combat during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2022 at Shoalwater Bay training area near Rockhampton.
Running until May 29, Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a trilateral training activity designed to enhance warfighting interoperability, strengthen international relationships and improve combat readiness.
USMC officer Lieutenant Daniel Chiavacci has been conducting urban clearances under the supervision of Australian Army instructors.
“For the first day, we were able to get our hands on the Australian EF88 rifle and use non-lethal bullets to conduct an urban clearance,” Lieutenant Chiavacci said.
“On day two, we’re doing a combat marksmanship package with Australian instructors – some of the basic shooting skills we need to know, every single day.”
“Southern Jackaroo has been a really good experience.
“The way they have broken us up into the different combat teams to be integrated with the partner nations has been a really valuable experience.”
Australian Army Private Matthew Godden, from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, talks with soldiers from the Japan Ground Self Defence Force. Photo: Corporal Dustin Anderson
Corporal Sam Jamieson, from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), has taken JGSDF, ADF and UMSC soldiers through instinctive combat shooting training.
“The Japanese guys have a great attitude towards combative behaviours. They are really keen to learn and, with the marines, we have seen the same positive attitude and the same willingness to learn and get out here training with us,” Corporal Jamieson said.
“Southern Jackaroo has been a really good exercise so far in terms of our ability to work in the combative space and we look forward to doing more of that during the rest of the exercise.”
6 RAR sniper Private Matthew Godden was part of a trilateral sniper patrol during Southern Jackaroo.
“We have three Japanese snipers, a Japanese interpreter, a USMC sniper and myself,” Private Godden said.
“It’s interesting seeing all the different ways that they can operate as snipers but, in the grand scheme of things, sniping around the world is pretty much the same.”
The Australian Army, USMC and JGSDF have utilised multiple translators to overcome the language barrier.
Private Godden said the language barrier didn’t stop him and one of his Japanese sniper colleagues tackling a live-fire range as a pair.
“Doing the live-fire serial with my Japanese colleague, he remembers the English catch words, I remember the Japanese catch words, and the basic structure of it worked quite well.”
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