 Marines and sailors of Company G, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, took a crash course in Australian sports as soldiers of the Australian Army's 1st Brigade played the game of rugby with the Marines, the Australian's national pastime aside from cricket. The rugby game easily strengthened the camaraderie between the forces preceding their upcoming training evolution. Not only is this a big exercise military-wise, it's a big opportunity for us to get to know them culturally, but sports are a good way to get to know people that are across the world and in a place that you don't ordinarily get to go. Within the coming days, the Marines and soldiers will commence the month-long, multinational Exercise Hamel 2012, where Gulf Company will act as the opposition force for the Brigade Certification Exercise, proving it prepared for operational deployment. Corporal Jonathan Wright, Camp Rocky, Australia