Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) – CONTACT magazine

Australian Army officers from 2nd Health Brigade assist United States Army personnel in loading a Japanese Middle Army patient onto a CT machine at the Role 3 field hospital on Exercise Orient Shield 2025 at the Sekiyama Training Area, Japan. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Japan News

Army medics hone trilateral skills

02/10/202502/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 448 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Brigade, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Orient Shield, Japan, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

From trauma care to casualty evacuation, army medical specialists from Australia, Japan and the United States trained side by side

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Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Orient Shield at the Sekiyama Training Area, Japan. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army Japan News Videos

Trilateral mortars on target

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 764 Views 0 Comments 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Exercise Orient Shield, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

In a landmark first, Australian Army soldiers joined their Japanese and United States counterparts in a combined mortar live-fire on

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HMAS Choules launches its mexefloat with Australian Army MAN HX77 trucks embarked to conduct amphibious operations as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre. Story by Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Talisman Sabre

D-Day at Shoalwater Bay

29/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1939 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, French Navy, HX77 Truck, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), Republic of Korea Navy, Shoalwater Bay Training Area, US Navy

As dawn broke over Shoalwater Bay, the Combined Task Group 628.1 waited in various landing crafts ready to assault the

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Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Brigade, alongside members from partner nations, on parade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photo by Lance Bombardier Christien Vestergaard.

Australian Army News

Exercise Southern Jackaroo a call to arms

28/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1769 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), Lavarack Barracks, US Marines

“Let me be blunt, this will not be a walk in the park.” CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Brigade, alongside

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A RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft departs Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during Exercise Cope North 25. Story b y Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Tankers band together in Guam

25/02/202501/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3086 Views 0 Comments Exercise Cope North, Guam, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Australian, Japanese and American refuelling aircraft have joined forces to feed thirsty fast jets in the skies above Guam. CAPTION: A

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Australian Army, United States Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel at the opening ceremony of Exercise Yama Sakura 85.

Aussies’ first participation in Ex Yama Sakura

08/12/202315/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2621 Views 0 Comments 1st (Australian) Division, Exercise Yama Sakura, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), US Army

Australia is participating in Exercise Yama Sakura (YS85) for the first time, enhancing interoperability and mutual defence capability with Japan

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Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force launch a Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile at Beecroft Weapons Range, New South Wales during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

Japan News Royal Australian Navy Talisman Sabre Videos

Talisman Sabre hosts military first with Japan

25/07/202325/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3086 Views 0 Comments Beecroft Weapons Range, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, HMAS Canberra, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF)

In an Australian-military first, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has conducted a live fire demonstration of a Type 12

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Australian Army riflemen from Battle Group Heeler deliver ammunition in a simulated urban assault during Exercise Southern Jackaroo, Townsville Field Training Area. Story by Major Roger Brennan. All photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Videos

Souther Jackaroo tests forces ahead of Talisman Sabre

07/07/202314/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3160 Views 0 Comments 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 7th Brigade, Diamond Strike, Exercise Southern Jackaroo, Exercise Talisman Sabre, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), MRF-D, Townsville Field Training Area, USMC

As dawn broke across the Townsville Field Training Area, marines from the US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) heard

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Members from the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, His Majesty’s Armed Forces – Tonga and the Australian Army attend the opening ceremony for Exercise Diamond Strike at Jezzine Barracks, Queensland. Story by Major Roger Brennan. All photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Multiple nations combine on Ex Southern Jackaroo 2023

29/06/202330/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2054 Views 0 Comments 7th Brigade, Diamond Strike, Exercise Southern Jackaroo, French Armed Forces in New Caledonia, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF)

Huddled in a small command post in the middle of Townsville Field Training Area, soldiers from the Australian Army’s 7th

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Army Corporal Sam Jamieson from 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment trains with the United States Marine Corps at Shoalwater Bay training area, Queensland, as part of Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2022. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army Japan News USA Videos

Jackaroo removes fences to improve interoperability

26/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3147 Views 0 Comments 6 RAR, EF-88, Exercise Southern Jackaroo, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), USMC

The Australian Army, United States Marine Corps (USMC) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) are removing the barriers to success

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Australian Army soldiers, from 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, watch a demonstration of the M224 60mm mortar by United States Marine Corps personnel at Shoalwater Bay training area, near Rockhampton.

Australian Army Japan News USA

Exercise Southern Jackaroo enhances international combat readiness

17/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2860 Views 0 Comments 6 RAR, 7th Brigade, Exercise Southern Jackaroo, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, US Marines

Hundreds of Australian soldiers, troops from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) and US Marines have started a major

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A Royal Australian Air Force officer receives a brief during Exercise Yama Sakura 81 in Japan. Story by Captain Michael Trainor.

Asia Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

1 Div observers in Japan for major CP exercise

21/12/202121/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2441 Views 0 Comments Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF)

ADF personnel this month observed one of the largest joint, bilateral command post exercises undertaken in recent times. CAPTION: A Royal

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