FRIDAY FOTO (August 2, 2013)

Under the Southern Cross

(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

Under the starry night sky in northeastern Australia, U.S. Marines prepare to collect simulated enemy casualties and weapons during a mechanized “raid” at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia. The Marines are part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which participated in Talisman Saber 2013, a two-week U.S.-Australian training exercise that concluded July 28.

The biennial exercise, aims to enhance collaboration between U.S. and Australian forces for future combined operations, humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters. To see Australian Defence Forces information about the exercise, as well as more photos a, click here,

The 31st MEU consists of about 2,200 Marines and Sailors equipped with more than 150 ground vehicles, 23 helicopters — ranging from  the CH-53 Sea Stallion to the AH-1 attack helicopter — and eight AV-8B Harrier jets all on board three amphibious ships: The USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Denver and USS Germantown. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU — the point end of the spear — and is the Marine Corps readiness force in the Asia-Pacific region.

Click on the photo to enlarge it. To see more photos of Talisman Saber, click here.