US Marines have landed in Australia...

via the Australia Ministry of Defense.

The first company-sized rotation of approximately 200 United States Marines Corps personnel have been officially welcomed to Darwin, with a ceremony at Robertson Barracks.
This initial Marine Corps rotation arrived in Darwin on 3 April, as part of the enhanced Australia‑US defence cooperation announced in November last year by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and United States President Barack Obama.
US Marine Corps personnel will deploy to northern Australia on a rotational basis for around six months per year.
In the future, up to 2500 Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) personnel will rotate into Australia during the northern dry season. 
A full MAGTF includes a Command Element, Ground Element, Aviation Element and Logistics Element.  Major equipment to support the elements of the MAGTF includes wheeled vehicles, artillery pieces, light armoured vehicles and aircraft, in addition to personnel. 
Heavy equipment, vehicles and aircraft are not included in the first rotation.
During the six-month deployment, the US Marine Corps will spend two or three months in Australia, mainly in Australian Defence Force training areas and ranges.  The remaining time will be spent engaging with partners in the region.
The US Marine Corps will use existing Defence facilities in northern Australia for accommodation and training. Defence will provide a range of support to this initial rotation and costs for this rotation will be shared under existing legal, financial and logistical arrangements.

Geez.

I'm happy to see the USMC finally getting set up in Australia.

Aussie Women!  YES!

But it strikes me that operational tempo Marine Corps wide seems to be increasing rather dramatically.  Afghanistan, MEU's, Africa, Japan, Australia and detachments operating everywhere in between ???

Yeah.  The war is suppose to be winding down in Afghanistan but the Marine Corps is busier than ever.  If the Ops Tempo keeps up at this pace then there is no way they'll be able to down size the Corps.

No way at all.

UPDATE & SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ALL GETTING ORDERS TO AUSTRALIA:  Be warned.  Everything living was designed to kill ya---makes a night at the NTA feel like a picnic..and that's during rainy season.  Check this out...via Cracked.com

Things in Australia that Will Kill You

Everything. No, seriously: Everything.

First there's the wildlife: If something appears to be cute and harmless in Australia, then we promise you - it has only evolved that way to lure you close enough for the thousands of ravenous, prehensile blade-tongues to descended upon you.

Then there's the Geography: Consisting mostly of arid, dry desert, (populated by over 100 venomous species of snake...READ THIS PART AGAIN~!  100 SPECIES OF VENOMOUS SNAKES!  THAT'S FUCKED UP BEYOND WORDS!) the harsh local climate is peppered with small, livable areas presumably just to lull human beings into a false sense of security.

Ah, but the tropical beaches, you say! Surely the paradise on Earth that is the Australian beach makes up for an entire continent of biological weapons. And it's true: Australia is known for having some of the best beaches in the world...all you have to worry about are the Saltwater Crocs, Great White Sharks, poisonous Stonefish, or being stung by the Box Jellyfish: The deadliest and most painful sting of any Jellyfish species in the world.

Your best bet is just to stay in the city then, right? Enjoy the local culture; go visit the capital of Canberra, or visit beautiful Sydney and see the wonder of the Opera house. And that's totally safe: Just remember to wear protective clothing, stay in well travelled areas, always know the nearest path to a hospital, and just generally try not to exist - because Australia is also home to over 280 species of poisonous spider (THAT'S RIGHT YOU LUCKY/POOR FUCKED BASTARD...100 SPECIES OF SNAKES AND 280 DIFFERENT POISONOUS CRAWLING IN YOUR SLEEPING BAG WHILE YOU'RE JACKING OFF SPIDERS---FACE IT....YOU LANDED IN PARADISE JUST TO GET FUCKED UP!), including that aforementioned Sydney Funnel Web Spider. What, did you think it was just a name? No, it lives in cities, in garages, in tool sheds and houses - it even swims. IT FUCKING SWIMS.

Seriously: Everything in Australia evolved solely to kill everything else in Australia - and you show up with your soft, unarmored skin, tiny, rounded teeth, and ridiculously non-poisonous spit and expect a vacation?

You just walked into Mother Nature's Thunderdome, friend. And in this analogy, you're not Max; you're the dead retard.  YEP.  SAY IT OUT LOUD.  YOU MADE IT THROUGH A WAR ZONE JUST TO GET BENEFITS PAID TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU GOT DEPLOYED TO READY TO FUCK YOU UP THE MINUTE YOU SLIP RAT FUCKED AUSTRALIA!

Things in Australia that Will Not Kill You

....

Hugh Jackman seems nice. 

All the above is said tongue in cheek (except the fact that the animals/wildlife will snack on your ass if you're stupid).