Alaska Guard prepares for training in Mongolia
International military officers listen to lectures and presentations regarding United Nations peace support operations in Mongolia on Aug. 3, 2009. The Alaska National Guard will participate in Khaan Quest 2009 with Mongolia, their State Partnership Program country, from Aug. 15-26, 2009. (Photo by Cpl. Daniel H. Woodall)
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hi-res photoCAMP DENALI, Alaska, (8/11/09) -- About 40 Alaska National Guard Soldiers are preparing for Khaan Quest 2009, a multinational training exercise at the Five Hills Training Area, Tavan Tolgoi, outside the city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The exercise is scheduled to kick off with an opening ceremony Aug.15 and conclude Aug. 26.
Guardsmen from the Alaska Army National Guard's 38th Troop Command and the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Medical Group will depart this week to join 250 members of the Mongolian Armed Forces, 150 members of the U.S. military, and 150 international military representatives for peace support operations training.
The exercise is hosted by the Mongolian Armed Forces and sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command. Mongolian, multinational and U.S. forces will conduct a command post exercise, field training exercise, humanitarian civic assistance project, medical readiness training exercise and a peace keeping operations seminar.
The purpose of Khaan Quest is to increase interoperability and planning expertise among participating nations and to further develop the Mongolian Armed Forces' training center at the Five Hills Training Area.
"One of the biggest benefits for Alaska Soldiers participating in this exercise is the opportunity to experience and interact with a multitude of soldiers from several countries; each learning about their culture, language and land," said Lt. Col. Stephen Wilson, state partnership coordinator for the Alaska National Guard. "The challenges of training in unfamiliar terrain, different climate and foreign culture add to the Soldier's training experience that is invaluable."
Since 2003, the Alaska National Guard and Mongolia have been forming a relationship and plan to build on this relationship far into the future through the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.
"The primary focus of the Alaska-Mongolia State Partnership Program is to develop a close relationship with our partner country that promotes stability, disaster response preparedness and better governance," Wilson said. "Our interaction with Mongolia's military forces, health care providers, education system and other aspects of Mongolia society benefit us with new experiences and learning opportunities."
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