![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3.jpg_43db42.jpg\")
\u201cOur Sec War has been adamant about increasing capabilities of the force with regards to small UAS [unmanned aerial systems] and first-person-view, one-way attack drones. We\u2019ve had the opportunity to experiment with those systems out here, and you saw some of that at the counter-landing live-fire in the Philippines,\u201d Flynn said. \u201cSo, we\u2019re definitely using those. We\u2019ve also used others like logistics-based unmanned aerial systems to facilitate movement of logistical requirements throughout the training areas here in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he noted the Marine Corps \u201cis actively still working through to increase capabilities\u201d in counter-drone systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps one of the biggest helps to the SPMAGTF would be more assets for \u201clift and the ability to move the force around the theater,\u201d Flynn shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, he said, \u201cI\u2019m beyond happy with what we\u2019ve been able to demonstrate with our operational reach, and I think it\u2019s just the opportunities that exist to further achieve interoperability with our allies and partners with moving the force around the theater is something that we should continue to look at going forward\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Positive vibes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Asked about what he has gained from leading the deployment, Flynn said, \u201cEvery day, I get a chance to lead all these Marines and sailors that are under my command, and how they generally seem to understand their purpose, and they operate with happy hearts out here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe relationships we\u2019ve built with the Australians and with other nations, allies and partners we\u2019ve got a chance to work with \u2014 and just a demonstration of what it means to be a MAGTF operating in the Pacific theater \u2014 has just been really powerful for me personally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flynn said MRF-D has contributed to a free and open Indo-Pacific theater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think our presence, our posture and our ability to demonstrate that we can get into locations and be responsive to countries in need facilitates that free and open Indo-Pacific. All countries in this area have their own sovereignty and we respect that, and we stand by to support and protect that sovereignty as required.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each MRF-D deployment lasts six months. The current one ends in October, just before the wet season arrives in northern Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This year’s Marine Rotation Force-Darwin is the first in its 15-year history to be certified as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":121006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":45,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[45,160,11,14,36],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3492],"class_list":["post-82809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-pacific","category-daily-news-roundup","category-global","category-land","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"WDSPLEWMXBGJBNXPRMSRV4GY64","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2026\/08\/13\/us-marines-roam-far-and-wide-from-temporary-darwin-base\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n