Exercise Kowari, a trilateral military exercise between Australia, the US and China, has begun in north Queensland.
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First held in 2014, the annual exercise encourages participating military personnel to work together in the Australian bush to conduct a series of training activities, including hiking, sea kayaking, mountaineering and canyoning.
The Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, said Exercise Kowari was designed to strengthen co-operation between the three participating nations.
"Exercise Kowari will enable important people-to-people connections between counterparts as they work together to complete a series of physically and mentally challenging training activities," LTGEN Burr said.
"By holding exercises such as Kowari, we promote friendship and co-operation between Australia, the US and China, enhancing the security of our region."
In its sixth iteration, Exercise Kowari is being hosted for a third time in far north Queensland by the Australian Army’s 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR).
The exercise included field training and survival tests in remote inland and coastal areas designed to provide participants with an understanding of the basic principles, procedures, techniques and equipment that can enhance survival prospects in a harsh Australian environment. The exercise will conclude on 5 September 2019.