Description
Description: Barracks Patch – Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D).
Comments: Barracks Patch – Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D).
The mission of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) and the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Darwin (SPMAGTF-Darwin) is to bolster US theater engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to expanding military-to-military ties and combined training engagements, the Marines would also also help expand US disaster relief capabilities in Southeast Asia.
President Barack Obama joined Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on 16 November 2011 that a decision had been made to expand military-to-military relationships between the 2 countries. Speaking at a joint news conference in the Australian capital of Canberra, the leaders announced closer collaboration between the US Marine Corps and Air Force and the Australian Defense Force. This effort followed President Obama’s call in 2011 for a strategic pivot of US defense posture toward the Asia-Pacific following the drawdown of US forces from Afghanistan and Iraq. To the end, beginning in mid-2012, company-size rotations of 200 to 250 Marines would begin deploying near Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory for 6-month rotations. The presence was then expected to expand to a force of 2,500 over the next several years.
