Q1. What is the purpose of the exercise?

A1. The purpose of TS07 is to train U.S. and Australian Combined Task Force and operations staff in crisis action planning for execution of contingency operations. TS07 provides an opportunity to practice working together in a combined and joint environment, test interoperability and to refine procedures and doctrine. More than 9000 U.S. and 7500 Australian personnel will participate. These figures are subject to operational requirements that may affect the availability of individual units.

Q2. What is the exercise scenario?

A2. Based on fictional scenarios, the exercise includes combined Special Forces operations, parachute drops, amphibious landings at Shoalwater Bay, artillery and infantry manoeuvres, air combat training and advanced maritime operations. The fictional scenarios are designed to bring the different branches of AS and US military together in a combined joint environment. They will include planning and execution efforts as well as military operations at sea, in the air, and ashore.

A3. A list of forces will be made available via a link on the C7F and ADF Web Sites at www.c7f.navy.mil/TS07 and http://www.defence.gov.au/exercises/ts07 closer to exercise commencement.

Q4. Will forces of any other countries participate in this exercise?

A4. No they won't, however there may be a small number of military observers from other countries in the region, but this is an Australian/US exercise.

Q5. Who will command the exercise?

A5. The Commander of the Combined Task Force, covering both the simulated and live portions of the Exercise is the Commander US Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Doug Crowder. The Commander of the Task Force Legais (a fictional land mass represented in part by Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), the live portion of the exercise, is Australian Major General Ash Power, Commander 1 Division.

Q6. What are the goals of the exercise?

A6. TS07 is designed to improve AS/US combat readiness and interoperability by combined training, to maximise combined training opportunities, to demonstrate commitment to regional security, and to maintain warfighting proficiency of AS/US Forces.

Q7. What is the benefit of this training?

A7. The exercise provides an opportunity for personnel from both countries and each Service of the military to train together and enhance their combined and joint war fighting skills.

Q8. How many times has this exercise been held?

A8. This is the second time TALISMAN SABER has been conducted, it was previously held in 2005. TALISMAN SABER merges the previous exercises of TANDEM THRUST and CROCODILE into one biennial, joint, combined exercise between U.S. and ADF forces.

Q9. How much money will be spent in the local economy?

A9. TALISMAN SABER 07 will deliver considerable economic benefits to local communities. Each exercise is different and there have been changes to the number of participants due to real world events, however it is estimated that spending on TS07 will be about $A4m to $A5m in the Rockhampton area and around $A4m in Townsville.

Q10. Will supplies for the exercise be purchased locally?

A10. Whenever possible, local suppliers will be used through the military procurement system to supply goods, especially consumable items such as fresh fruits, vegetables and other food items.

Q11. Which US ships will visit local ports and when?

A11. Ship visits to area ports will take place in conjunction with the exercise and will be publicly announced upon ship arrival in port.

Q12. Will exercise participants be allowed local leave?

A12. Exercise participants will have the opportunity to visit various areas in Australia in conjunction with the exercise.

Q13. How can we be assured that service members will behave whilst off-duty in Australia?

A13. Personnel have been briefed on proper conduct both on and off duty. We expect them to adhere to the same high standards no matter where they are. US service members are considered ambassadors of the United States while Australian personnel represent the ADF. They are well aware of the code of conduct to which they must adhere and as such, they will do their very best to ensure that the exercise strengthens the ties between the two countries.

Q14. Will there be public tours of the US ships?

A14. To be advised.

Q15. How safe are these exercises?

A15. Safety is our top priority. Every effort has been made to reduce the risk of injury, and special safety working groups have made concerted efforts to ensure everyone has been thoroughly trained and briefed on safety considerations.

Q16. Will aircraft/vehicle noise be a concern?

A16. Every effort is being made to reduce the effects of aircraft and vehicle noise. Abatement measures include restricting aircraft to designated training areas within reasonable hours of operation, and selecting flight paths to ensure aircraft are not concentrated over a particular area for a prolonged period. Vehicle traffic on civilian roadways will be limited as much as possible.

Q17. Will mines be laid at sea for this exercise, and if so, what are the environmental impacts?

A17. No mines will be used for the exercise.

Q18. Will laser weapons be used?

A18. No. Laser-guided weapons will be used for live-fire training, but for these weapons, the laser provides targeting information and is itself not a weapon.

Q19. Will explosives be transported on public highways or placed at other public sites?

A19. Military ordnance is safely transported over civilian roads and highways on a frequent basis. Such movements are done with the greatest degree of attention for hazard reduction and security. These procedures will be followed during TS07, and all personnel involved in munitions movement are thoroughly trained.

Q20. Does the US have any nuclear-powered ships or submarines participating in TS07?

A20. Yes, a US Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine is scheduled to participate in the exercise.

Q21. What procedures are in place if there is a nuclear accident in TS07?

A21 . Visits of Nuclear Powered Warships (NPWs) to Australian ports are permitted only to berths and anchorages that have been assessed as suitable by the Visiting Ships Panel (Nuclear) (VSP (N)). This is in order to ensure that the members of the public are not subject to an unacceptable risk due to NPW visits, and that adequate emergency arrangements are in place for dealing with accidents. The primary means for judging the suitability of ports for NPW visits has been radiological port assessments performed by the Nuclear Safety Bureau (NSB), and port validations performed by the VSP(N). Publications OPSMAN 1 and 'Reference Accident ' deal with visits by NPWs to Australian ports and give very clear guidance on the reactions required by Commonwealth agencies and State Emergency Services supporting these visits.

The VSP (N) consists of representatives from the following departments: International Policy Division, DSTO, Surgeon General ADF, Headquarters Australian Defence Force Operations, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Department of the Environment and Heritage, Department of Health and Aged Care, Attorney General's Department, and Emergency Management Australia. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as well as Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have invited membership.

Q22. Will US submarines conduct emergency surfacing operations during the exercise?

A22. Typically, those manoeuvres are done for maintenance and basic crew training prior to deployments. It is unlikely these operations would take place as part of the exercise.

Q23. Is Exercise Talisman Saber the first stage in the development of the Joint Combined Training Centre in Australia?

A23. No. The exercise is part of the ongoing bilateral training program between the U.S. and Australia . The Joint Combined Training Capability concept will however be demonstrated during the exercise. For further information about the Urban Warfare Training Facility, see the Joint Combined Training Capability link on this TS07 website.

Q24. Will Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 involve preparation of ADF and US Forces for military operations in the Asia-Pacific region? Are particular countries in the region being targeted for possible future military operations in Exercise Talisman Saber 2007?

A24. No. TALISMAN SABER is based on generic scenarios designed to exercise interoperability between Australian and US forces. It is not aimed or directed at any country in the region. The exercise provides Joint Task Force training for land, maritime and air operations. It exercises staff in crisis action planning for the execution of contingency operations and aims to improve interoperability between ADF and US Forces for a variety of contingencies. 

Q25. Do those contingencies include pre-emptive military strikes in the region?

A25. No. While exercising interoperability prepares our forces for a variety of tasks, pre-emptive strikes are not being rehearsed by Australian and US forces.

Q26. Do you consider Australia a partner of the US Seventh Fleet?

A26. Australia 's relationship with the US Seventh Fleet is a long-standing and mutually beneficial one. We work closely through our training and exercise program and have a shared commitment to upholding regional security and helping out such as through our combined efforts in tsunami relief.

Q27. What steps have exercise officials taken to protect the environment?

A27. Environmental protection is always a key concern. An environmental impact assessment was conducted as part of exercise preparations. This included detailed protocols for waste management, live-fire exercises, and personnel education. An Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) has been set up to monitor compliance with stringent exercise environment protection instructions. The EMG will also provide advice to military commanders on environmental mitigation and avoidance measures and report environmental incidents if required. The EMG will have direct access to the Exercise Director to ensure that exercise activities are conducted with minimal environmental impact.

Q28. What assurances can be given about the protection of the environmentally sensitive areas?

A28. For all aspects of the exercise, there have been extensive consultations between ADF/US Forces and Australian government agencies to identify and minimise environmental effects.

Q29. What is the ADF/US policy on the environment?

A29. The ADF/US ability to accomplish its mission requires daily operations in the land, sea, and air environments. We are committed to operating in a manner compatible with the environment. National defence and environmental protection are and must continue to be compatible goals. Therefore, an important part of our mission is to prevent pollution, protect the environment, and protect natural, historic, and cultural resources. Defence policy, which is borne out by our record in Australia , is to be a leader in environmental management to support the ADF's capability to defend Australia and our national interests.

Q30. How will the ships that are scheduled to be sunk affect the environment?

A30. There is no ship sinking activity scheduled during this exercise.

Q31. How does the Navy protect the environment?

A31 The Royal Australian Navy is legislatively bound by the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and obliged by the expectation of the Australian public to conduct its activities in an environmentally responsible manner, balanced with operational requirements and personnel safety. Defence and Navy have a comprehensive framework in place to recognise and deal with environmental management of Defence activities. The key aspect of this is the Defence Environment Policy.

Q32. Who funds environmental programs?

A32. Defence environmental programs are funded through the Defence budget and are managed by the Defence Support Group for policy and advice. Environmental risk reduction is inherent to all stages of the planning, management and conduct of activities, and the acquisition and maintenance of ships, and the true costs of environmental compliance are spread across a number of programs. These include: ship design and maintenance, such as installation of waste processing equipment and minimisation of hull fouling; the planning and conduct of exercises, for example, the thorough preparation of target hulks; and the selection of areas and times for exercise activities so as to minimise environmental risks.

Q33. How does the Navy react to oil spills? 

A33. Navy has robust standard operating procedures in place to respond to an oil spill to ensure minimal risk to the environment and safety of personnel. Navy complies with The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and records and reports incidents, including oils spills and works closely with civil authorities to contain and clean up from an oil spill. Any environmental incidents are also investigated in order to determine the cause of the incident and prevent a recurrence.

Navy aims to prevent oil spills and has robust procedures in place to reduce the risk of an oil spill. These include risk reduction measures inherent to the engineering of oil transfer and refuelling systems and standard procedures such as the sea state parameters under which fuel transfers occur, the use of drip trays and having clean-up kits available for immediate response. The type of fuels used by navies (F76 diesel and aviation spirits) are relatively light, refined products. They volatise rapidly, particularly in warm waters, and do not readily form the heavy, environmentally damaging emulsions characteristic of spills of heavy crudes and bunker fuels.

Q34. What is the Navy's policy on endangered species and marine mammals?

A34. The Australian measures which will be adhered to by US forces are based upon significant research and evaluation by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The ADF takes the responsibility of protecting the environment in which it operates seriously in particular ensuring the protection of endangered species and marine mammals. The ADF protects endangered and marine mammals through a comprehensive framework of risk mitigation procedures developed after careful analysis of all Defence maritime activities. Adherence to strict environmental protection measures by Defence have enabled Defence to continue to operate in Shoalwater Bay which is both a military training area and an official dugong sanctuary.

Q35. What is the standard procedure for checking for marine mammals?

A35. ADF marine mammal management procedures require ships to check for marine mammals in their vicinity, with safe to operate zones set dependent upon the type of equipment being used or activity being undertaken. For example, hull-mounted anti-submarine warfare sonars require checking for marine mammals to be clear of the area for several kilometres around the transmitting ship, while hand-held, low power diver sonars have less stringent requirements. Marine mammal risk control measures are in place for all ADF sonars, weapon systems and aircraft.

Q36. How will the presence of US naval vessels impact marine mammals?

A36. US Navy vessels actually account for a very small percentage of vessels underway at any given time, and even less use sonar. Few merchant vessels use sonar. There are many different sources of sound, both natural and man-made which may impact marine mammals.

Q37. How does the Navy protect marine mammals?

A37. Defence has implemented a comprehensive package of measures to protect marine mammals. These include: multi-year, multi-million dollar research programs (focused upon species such as blue whales, humpback whales and dugongs); comprehensive and exhaustive environmental assessment of all Defence maritime activities to identify risks and develop risk-reduction measures; environmental assessment of new RAN ships and their weapon and sensor systems; improving training and awareness of ship company, planning exercise activities so as to avoid marine mammal aggregation areas and periods or otherwise minimise risks; and implementation of a comprehensive package of marine mammal risk mitigation procedures for application at the operational level.

Q38. What training do navy crews receive to detect marine mammals?

A38. The RAN has implemented similar measures to those outlined above for the USN (but the RAN does not have a "whale wheel"). Lookouts and warfare officers are trained to detect and report marine mammals at long visual ranges. RAN submarine sonar operators are also trained to detect and localise marine mammal vocalisations.

Q39. Do navy ships have some other means to locate and identify if marine mammals are in the area?

A39. The RAN employs similar procedures to those followed by the USN. Aircraft and other water-borne craft (for example, target towing aircraft or vessels, torpedo recovery vessels etc) are used as additional observers.

Q40. Is Depleted Uranium (DU) being used during TS07?

A40. No. DU is not being used during TALISMAN SABER 07.

Information current at 27 February 2007