As hundreds of new Defence troops take up new postings in Darwin, they've been welcomed to the Top End in a truly Territory way. With Australia's armed forces pivoting focus to the Indo-Pacific, military leaders say its crucial personnel feel at home in the NT.
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00:00 For their first experience of the Northern Territory's wildside, not everyone is convinced.
00:07 "A little bit scary."
00:10 As their parents settle into new postings in the Top End, Defence Force kids are weighing up what their new home has to offer.
00:18 "It's super cool and he's like super heavy."
00:21 Through the seas, in the air and on land, the Tricolour's on display.
00:27 "So here we have our 12.7mm quick change barrel weapon system."
00:31 "We've got an influx of about 1500 new Defence people and their families."
00:36 Defence members meeting local clubs and some of the therapeutic supports on offer.
00:41 "It's a great honour to work in this unit and do such interesting work."
00:44 The move north bringing mixed feelings for loved ones.
00:48 "It was certainly a bit anxiety inducing, but once you really throw yourself in you can kind of overcome that."
00:56 "There's so much here that the Territory can offer and there's a lot of supports here, people just need to reach out."
01:02 While today's event is a chance for Darwin to say hello to its newest members, it's also an opportunity to find the next generation of Australian recruits.
01:11 "To become a first aid officer, so that's why I joined Cadets, so I can get closer to my goal in life."
01:21 "There's a huge amount of resources and so many people that have the life skills and the experience that translates so well."
01:28 With the Defence Force pivoting focus to the Indo-Pacific, funding for northern bases is ballooning, developing community a necessary tool.
01:37 "By the end of the year you'll see a modest increase in the numbers of Army personnel, but there's also replicated across the other services."
01:46 "The Defence presence in the north is getting larger and more significant."
01:50 "The base gets bigger, the infrastructure gets better, the capabilities become more advanced, we'll have more to share with the region for sure."
01:57 In the meantime...
01:59 "Do you reckon you'll be holding many more crocodiles while you're here?"
02:02 "Yeah, I think so."
02:04 Grabbing the wild north with both hands.
02:07 "I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it."
02:09 "I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it."