MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Families and friends will bid farewell to Marines scheduled to deploy to Australia during an event at Camp Pendleton, the morning of April 1st.
The Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, are slated to deploy for six months to Northern Territory, Australia.
While in Australia, the Marines will conduct training with the Australia Defence Force and other international partners. In addition to improving mutual defense capabilities with Australian allies, the Marines may also deploy to other countries to participate in multinational security cooperation activities or disaster response.
President Barack Obama and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the rotational deployments of U.S. Marines to Darwin and Northern Australia in November 2011.
Media are invited to attend the farewell event, where they will have an opportunity to meet with Marines, Sailors and families. Interviews with the commanding officer of the battalion will also be available.
MEDIA COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS: Media interested in covering this event should RSVP by emailing 1st Lt. Joshua Pena at joshua.pena1@usmc.mil no later than 12 p.m., Monday, Mar. 31. Members of the media who attend will meet at Camp Pendleton’s CRISTIANITOS GATE no later than 0900 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1. Reporters can expect to remain on base for approximately two-three hours.