As Australia ends its longest war in Afghanistan, the army's attention has turned to home amid growing instability in the Indo-Pacific.
The re-focus comes with an increasingly assertive China advancing unlawful territorial claims, economic coercion and foreign interference.
The nation's top soldier, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, says future army operations will target regional insecurity and humanitarian disaster relief.
"There's a lot of change going on," the Chief of Army told reporters during a tour of Australia's northern military units last week.
"We're now very focused on our own region and the threats and changes in our environment."
One of the units protecting the nation is Norforce, a spartan surveillance regiment of about 450 part-time Indigenous and non-Indigenous soldiers.
Using Aboriginal bushcraft and the Defence Force's latest high-tech surveillance equipment, they're Australia's eyes and ears along 1600km of remote and inhospitable coastline in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The unit is tasked with safeguarding the nation's border against terrorism, organised crime, natural resource theft and illegal border crossings.
"They're very effective and very successful because they bring unique skills, insights and a unique understanding of the country," Lt Gen Burr said.
"That's an enormous competitive advantage that only this unit has."
Squadrons across Norforce's 1.8 million sq/km operating area, who have specialists knowledge of their local area, provide invaluable intelligence to Defence.
They also have strong links to Aboriginal communities that offer additional expertise when needed, along with a steady flow of eager recruits.Lance Corporal Craig Norman, 35, from Borroloola, about 970km southeast of Darwin, says he's enjoyed mixing traditional owner knowledge and army skills.
He's been a Norforce member now for 16 years after following his father into the service.
"I'm proud I'm protecting our country for our people and families back home," he said.
"It doesn't matter what sort of race or colour you are, once you're out in the green skin we're all one mob, all together as one."
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