The Marine Corps plans to have 1,100 troops in Australia by 2014 that will aim to help the country develop its amphibious capabilities, Marine Corps Times reported Tuesday.
Gina Harkins writes Australia intends for U.S. Marines to mentor Australian navy personnel as the country acquires two amphibious assault ships.
 “They want to know how to put ground forces on amphibious ships, and drive them around the Pacific like we do,” Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock, deputy commander of Marine Corps Forces Pacific, told Marine Corps Times.
The first 250 Hawaii-based Marines deployed to Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory last year and another 200 Marines will be deployed in April 2014, Harkins reports.
Simcock said the second phase of the deployments will have the branch grow its forces into a team-sized unit by next year, according to the report.
The Marine Corps intends to rotate a 2,500-person air-ground task force through Australia by 2016, Simcock said.
