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. 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. 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.
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. 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.” Lieutenant General Bilton said.
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. 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.
TS21 is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and United States (US) military. It is designed to test our respective forces in planning and conducting Combined and Joint Task Force operations and improve the combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces. Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre reflects the closeness of our alliance and strength of our enduring military relationship. TS21 is the ninth iteration of the exercise and consists of a Field Training Exercise incorporating force preparation (logistic) activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvre, urban operations, air combat and maritime operations.
