This month, Commander Faith Gamboa of the US Coast Guard will lead a team - of which about 90 per cent are reservists - who hail from Clearwater, Florida.

“This is the first time a Port Security unit has ever been to Darwin, ever been to the Indian Ocean,” she said.

“So this is a big thing for the US government.”

While it is rare for the US Coast Guard to partake in a large, international military exercise, Commander Gamboa said she saw potential to test her troops in the waters of Darwin Harbour and beyond.

Exercise Talisman Sabre will run from 13 July to 4 August.

With more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations about to participate in one of our nation’s largest ever war games exercises, Australian Defence has warned of the increased military activity.

Australia will host Exercise Talisman Sabre from 13 July to 4 August with significant areas of the Northern Territory involved.

Talisman Sabre locations include:

Northern Territory Defence Bases/Training Areas: HMAS Coonawarra; Larrakeyah Defence Precinct; Defence Estate Berrimah; Robertson Barracks; RAAF Base Darwin; RAAF Base Tindal; Bradshaw Field Training Area; Mt Bundy Training Area; Delamere Air Weapons Range; Darwin; Katherine; Bootu Creek; Timber Creek and Roper River region.

“We ask the community to be aware, but not alarmed by these activities,” Defence said in a statement.

Australia has welcomed the 14th rotation of the United States Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) to the Northern Territory, marking another milestone in the long-standing defence partnership between the two nations.

Approximately 2,500 US Marines and sailors will take part in combined training operations with the ADF and regional partners throughout this rotation. The program will see participation in major exercises across Australia and the Indo-Pacific, including Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

Talisman Sabre, Australia’s largest military exercise since World War II, will involve participation from 19 nations.

The Northern Territory facility that gained national prominence as the "gold standard" for quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic will be used to house thousands of troops form both Australia and overseas under a new lease agreement struck by the federal and NT governments.

The 3,500 bed former COVID-19 quarantine facility will be used to house thousands of military personnel from Australia and overseas under a new five-year deal between the federal and NT governments.

The first large cohort to be housed at the facility — 1,300 troops from Australia and international partner nations taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre — is due to arrive later this month.

"The importance of this facility is it will take pressure of the local accommodation market during a crucial time for the NT tourism season, and that will ensure that there's more beds for tourists to come to."

More than 650 military personnel including US Marines and sailors have joined Japanese and Australian soldiers for a large-scale, live-fire training exercise this month.

The exercise, which will include live firing, comprises 400 Australian Defence Force (ADF) soldiers, 190 US Marines from Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) and 70 soldiers from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF).

It started Monday and is scheduled to take place throughout the heritage-listed, 453,700 hectare Shoalwater Bay Military Training area, about 80km north of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, through to May 27.

Brigadier Michael Say, Commander of the Brisbane-based 7th Combat Brigade, said the combined arms exercise would include tank integration and live fire between infantries.