PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - More than 27,000 U.S. and Australian personnel will participate in the military training exercise Talisman Saber 2013 in Australia beginning July 15.

The Talisman Saber exercise series is a biennial training event aimed at improving Australian Defence Force (ADF) and U.S. combat readiness and interoperability as a Combined Joint Task Force. The 2013 exercise, which runs through August 5, is designed to enhance collaboration in support of future combined operations, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.

In addition to improving both nations' ability to work bilaterally and multilaterally throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and globally, the exercise also demonstrates the closeness of the Australian and U.S. alliance.

Jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and ADF Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Talisman Saber 2013 will incorporate U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, the ADF and other government agencies from each country.

Participation by Australian government entities includes the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Agency for International Development, the Australian Civilian Corps, the Australian Federal Police, and the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence.

U.S. participating agencies include the U.S. Departments of State, Justice and Agriculture, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The exercise will focus on training a Combined Joint Task Force of U.S. and Australian forces in a possible conflict scenario, incorporating interagency participation. U.S. Pacific Command units and Australian forces will conduct land, sea, and air drills throughout the training areas.

Approximately 18,000 U.S. and 9,000 Australian personnel will take part, including ships from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group and Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked, along with a variety of other U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army units working alongside their Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and Australian Army counterparts.

Exercise locations in Australia include Rockhampton, Enoggera, Amberley, Williamtown, Richmond, the maritime areas of the Coral Sea; and Australian ranges to include Shoalwater Bay Training Area and Townsville Field Training Area. For all aspects of the exercise, there have been extensive consultations between the U.S. military and Australian government agencies to identify effects and minimize harm to the environment.

Talisman Saber will also include activities in multiple U.S. locations, including Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; San Diego; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; and Suffolk, Va.

Additional information on the exercise will be available on the U.S. Pacific Fleet website at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/talisman-saber/2013/ as the exercise progresses, and through a link from the Australian Defence Force site at www.defence.gov.au/opEx/exercises/ts13/.

For information and media interested in covering the exercise, contact the Combined Joint Information Bureau Office at (+61) 7-4936-6266.

Australian Defence Force Public Affairs: Media contact: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664 | (02) 6128 4111.