Marine Rotational Force - Darwin

Strength Through Partnership

Who we are

From April to October each year, the MRF-D Marine Air-Ground Task Force deploys to Darwin, Australia, postures for contingency, and enhances interoperability with regional allies and partners in order to strengthens relationships, respond to crisis and set conditions for operational tasking.

MRF-Darwin News

MRF-D 25.3 commences Bersama Warrior 25 in Malaysia

KUANTAN, Pahang, Malaysia – U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) alongside the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and U.S. Army Pacific are participating in the Bersama Warrior 2025 staff exercise (STAFFEX) held in Malaysia June 17-26, 2025.

U.S., Australia, and Japan strengthen ties during Southern Jackaroo 25

TOWNSVILLE, Australia — U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) arrived in Townsville to train alongside the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 25, a multi-lateral exercise held from May 25 through June 13, 2025 at the Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia.

U.S., Philippines, Japan and the Republic of Korea conclude KAMANDAG 9

Elements of I and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) concluded Exercise KAMANDAG 9 June 6, 2025, capping weeks of multilateral training across the Philippine archipelago, advancing air, maritime, and littoral capabilities and reaffirming the shared vision of peace and prosperity among the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Thailand.

MRF-D 25.3 Spotlight: KAMANDAG 9: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christian Diaz provides critical capability to multinational training in the Philippines

Two years after enlisting out of Palm Coast, Florida, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christian Diaz, a satellite transmission systems operator with Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 1, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3, never imagined he'd find himself in Palawan, Philippines, during Exercise KAMANDAG 9, doing something he's deeply passionate about, practicing martial arts.

Multinational forces kick off KAMANDAG 9 in the Philippines

Philippine, U.S., Japan, Korean and United Kingdom military leaders launched KAMANDAG 9 on Monday with an opening ceremony hosted at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown, marking the official start of the ninth iteration of the Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat (“Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea”) exercise.

From the Top End to the Philippines: MRF-D 25.3 bolsters U.S.-Philippine alliance

From the northern coast of Australia to the southern edge of the Philippine archipelago, U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) spent the last month executing rapid maneuver, joint and combined integrated fires, and combined exercises alongside Philippine and Australian allies across one of the world’s most complex and challenging maritime regions.

Honoring the Past: U.S. Marines commemorate the Battle of the Coral Sea

U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 participated in a commemoration service for the Battle of the Coral Sea in Darwin on May 6.

Philippine, U.S., Australian forces conduct combined training on Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines — U.S. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), Australian Army Soldiers with the 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR), Australian Defence Force (ADF), and Philippine Marines from the 3rd Marine Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), executed a high-tempo, trilateral simulated airfield insertion during a maritime key terrain security operation (MKTSO) for Exercise Balikatan 25, May 4, 2025.

Multinational forces set to launch KAMANDAG 9 in the Philippines

Service members from the United States, Philippines, Japan, Republic of Korea and United Kingdom will kick off Exercise KAMANDAG 9 on May 26, 2025, training across the Philippines to enhance multinational military readiness, interoperability, and regional defense capabilities.

Postured and Ready: MRF-D 25.3 deploys across the Pacific

Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 has commenced its 14th iteration, projecting its operational reach well beyond northern Australia. While most of the force has successfully closed in Darwin, a portion of the ground combat element deployed directly from Camp Pendleton, California, to the Philippines to train with the Philippine Marine Corps’ (PMC) 1st Marine Brigade in Mindanao.

MRF-D Spotlight: Cpl. Jonathan Jones

Three years after enlisting out of Ayden, North Carolina, Cpl. Jonathan J. Jones, a data system administrator with Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, deploys for a second rotation with the 14th iteration of MRF-D.

U.S. Marines, Sailors with MRF-D 25.3 arrive to Northern Territory

U.S. Marines and Sailors have arrived in the Northern Territory to kick off the 14th annual rotation of the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin Marine Air-Ground Task Force.