DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 250/10
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Brisbane soldiers join major military exercise in East Timor
Multi-national forces including the East Timorese Defence Force (F-FDTL) and the
International Stabilisation Force (ISF) are participating in a multi-lateral Marine Exercise
(MAREX) in East Timor.
The ISF includes soldiers from the Brisbane-based 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian
Regiment.
The United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy (USN) have joined the F-FDTL
and ISF participants in Exercise Crocodile 10, from 19 to 26 June 2010, to provide an
opportunity for multi-national forces to work together in the planning and conduct of a
complex military exercise.
Exercise Crocodile 10 will include weapons firing skills, amphibious assault serials, jungle
training, flying operations, and a helicopter raid on an abandoned prison.
The exercise also includes community support activities such as reconstruction and medical
programs.
Two USN ships USS Peleliu and USS Pearl Harbor will support the exercise.
Commander of the ISF, Colonel Simon Stuart, said Exercise Crocodile aims to foster regional
security, and increase readiness and cooperation amongst partner nations.
“The Exercise will focus on professional development and arms corps advice to the F-FDTL.
It includes community support activities such as engineering supported by the ISF and
medical and community relations programs supported by the F-FDTL and US military.”
The partner nation military forces will ensure there is minimal interruption or disturbance to
the local community by the flying operations and troop movements during the exercise.
The ISF currently comprises around 550 personnel, 400 of which are from the Australian
Defence Force (ADF). The Australian commitment includes elements of the 8th/9th Battalion
Royal Australian Regiment and support elements such as engineers, logistics and supply
personnel from the wider ADF. The ISF also includes the Timor Leste Aviation Group
(TLAG) drawn primarily from the Australian 5th Aviation Regiment with Australian Black
Hawk S70A-9 helicopters. The New Zealand commitment is from the 16th Field Regiment
and 2nd/1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
Media note: Imagery will be available on the Defence website post-exercise.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
