An MH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter, assigned to the Air Combat Element of the U.S. Marine Corps' 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and embarked aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), lifts an M777 155mm lightweight howitzer at Shoalwater Bay in Queensland, Australia, as a part of Talisman Sabre 2009 on July 19, 2009. Talisman Sabre is a biennial, combined training exercise that trains U.S. and Australian forces in planning and conducting combined operations that will help improve combat readiness and interoperability between the countries' militaries.