Northern exposure for NORFORCE

Swapping sub-zero temperatures in picturesque Canada for the harsh sun of the Northern Territory is never easy, but on Exercise Southern Cross, the 4th Canadian Patrol Ranger Group is taking it in its stride.

CAPTION: Australian Army soldier Private Kaitlyn Gallagher, left, hands over a juvenile saltwater crocodile to a soldier from 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group during the Exercise Southern Cross 2025 fauna workshop in Darwin. Story by Captain Tim Klingner. Photos by Corporal Michael Currie.

Deploying to parts of northern Australia with North-West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) before heading out bush, the rangers were brought face to face with some of Australia’s wildlife.

“I’m glad it was just a baby crocodile, they’re kind of cute when they are just that small and I like snakes so that was OK, but I was glad it was non-venomous,” Master Corporal Emily Coombs said.

Exercise Southern Cross will involve NORFORCE and the Rangers being put through survival exercises that the international contingent hasn’t experienced before in Northern America.

CAPTION: A soldier from the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group gets hands-on with a non-venomous olive python during the Exercise Southern Cross fauna workshop in Darwin.

“I’m interested to see the similarities and differences between survival for us at home in Canada and here in Australia and am hoping to take some tips from NORFORCE back home,” Master Corporal Coombs said.

The partnership is currently the only army-to-army lateral relationship between Australia and Canada, and it is only getting stronger, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) David Sudholz said.

“It commenced around the early 2010s; around 2014 we hosted the first group from the Canadian Rangers. They came out to Australia and that’s now transformed into a bilateral exchange program,” WO2 Sudholz said.

“We share historical similarities as they’re based off a unit that was formed during the Second World War, as we are as well within NORFORCE.”

The international partnership will continue next year and will involve a contingent of NORFORCE soldiers deploying to Canada for Exercise Northern Lights.

CAPTION: Soldiers from the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group embrace Australia’s wildlife during the Exercise Southern Cross fauna workshop in Darwin.

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