COVID-19 or Not: US Marines Arrive at RAAF Base Darwin

06/06/2020
By Australian Department of Defence

The first group of around 200 US Marines arrived at RAAF Base Darwin on 02 June 2020 as part of the ninth Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D).

Their arrival was the result of extensive planning and coordination between Australia and the US to address challenges posed by COVID-19.

All Marines will be quarantined for 14 days at Defence facilities in the Darwin area, following biosecurity screening and COVID-19 testing on arrival.

The Marines will be tested again for COVID-19 before exiting quarantine.

These arrangements have been established after close consultation with the Northern Territory Government.

The Marines will train with ADF personnel at various Defence training facilities around the greater Darwin area, including Mount Bundey and Kangaroo Flats. MRF-D will grow to around 1,200 personnel over the next eight weeks and will train through to September.

The Marines will then redeploy back to Japan and the United States.