ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia - Mine safety is the top priority for three West Virginia Army National Guard members who are in Mongolia this week to share their knowledge of mining with the Mongolian government as part of Alaska's State Partnership Program.
Army 1st Lt. Joshua Poling, Army 1st Lt. John Sinsel and Army Staff Sgt. Tommy Wolford, are Soldiers from the West Virginia Army National Guard and are all full-time coal miners. The trip is the first of its kind to Mongolia and both sides hope to exchange knowledge and ideas with each other.
"We are here to help the Mongolians on the importance of safety in coal mining," said Wolford, West Virginia cavalry scout sergeant. "We are hoping to bring down the number of fatalities with mining in Mongolia."
In 2011, Mongolia had more than 100 fatalities in the mining industry and started seeking help from other countries to find the root of the problem.
"We are teaching the importance of ventilation and how critical it is to keep the mines safe," Wolford said. "Other than the miners themselves, ventilation is the highest priority to keeping the mines safe."
The state of Alaska has had a partnership with the country of Mongolia since 2003 though the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.
The Alaska National Guard has sent subject matter experts in various career fields to help train Mongolians and participate in exchanges, according to Army Maj. Wayne Don, Alaska-Mongolia State Partnership Program director.
"This mining opportunity came up through conversations with our Mongolian partners," Don said. "Since Alaska doesn't deal with mining that often, I started communication with the West Virginia National Guard to request support from them."
The Guard members, who are heading home this weekend, hope their knowledge exchange with the Mongolians helps save lives and are proud they had the opportunity to pass along safety tips.
"I never thought I would be in the county of Mongolia to teach mining, Wolford said. "But the great thing about the National Guard is it can take you places you never dreamed of."