SARAH MARTIN
THE first detachment of marines to be deployed on Australian soil will fly into Darwin today as the city prepares to become a staging post for the US in the Asia-Pacific region.
Up to 250 marines from the Fox company of the Second Battalion of the Third Marine Regiment will be welcomed by Defence Minister Stephen Smith at a formal military ceremony at Robertson Barracks tomorrow.
The contingent is the first of the 2500 troops to be deployed to the Northern Territory under a bilateral defence deal announced by Barack Obama and Julia Gillard in November.
The marines will train during the dry season at the territory's Mount Bundy, Bradshaw and Delamere training areas while based at Robertson.
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