Opening Ceremony Showcases Multi-National Troops and Mongolian Culture

The Oregon Army National Guard unit participating in Khaan Quest 2006 is B Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, based out of Corvallis.

(ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia) - The President of Mongolia and Commander-in-Chief of the Mongolian Armed Forces, H.E. Nambaryn Enkhbayar, officially kicked off Khaan Quest 2006.

This is a two-week United Nations peacekeeping exercise, during the opening ceremony at the Five Hills Training Center, near Ulaanbaatar on August 11th. Also in attendance was the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia, Pamela J.H. Slutz. A vast array of nations were represented at the opening ceremony including the participating field exercise military units from the Oregon National Guard and Alaska National Guard, along with troops from Mongolia, Bangladesh, India, Fiji, Tonga and Thailand. During the 15-day exercise, military personnel will react to six different situational training scenarios that are designed to improve multi-national speed of response, mission effectiveness, interoperability and unity of effort.

"I am full of confidence that this multinational field exercise and command post exercise will enhance your interoperability skills for the cause of good, and it will give a large impetus to our own efforts to accelerate the reform of our Armed Forces, increasing the opportunities in Mongolia to further strengthen our contribution to the global peace effort," said Enkhbayar to the troops.

"We live in an increasingly interconnected world, therefore, participation in multinational training events such as Khaan Quest is paramount," said Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Tom, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific. "This exercise provides the ideal venue for soldiers from many nations to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures in the art of military peacekeeping." The Oregon Army National Guard unit participating in Khaan Quest 2006 is B Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, based out of Corvallis, and also includes Soldiers from Cottage Grove and Eugene. The unit deployed two infantry platoons, five trainers, tactical operations personnel, and medics to Ulaanbataar, Mongolia for the exercise.

"The training on these lanes are very common peacekeeping tasks, but the real key to this exercise is the multinational experience that these platoons are going to come away from this with," said Lt. Col. Edward Tanguy, U.S. contingency commander for Khaan Quest 2006 and commander of 2nd Bn., 162nd Inf. In addition to training, Khaan Quest 2006 provides a venue for nations to share their culture with each other. As part of the opening ceremony, Mongolia hosted a music, dance and cultural program showcasing the rich traditions and character of the country. Highlights included the traditional art of throat singing, a performance of Mongolian masked temple dancers, a display by contortionists and a mock battle of fighting warriors on horses.

Although the opening ceremony was just the start of this peacekeeping exercise, all those involved say in the end, everyone will come away with a better understanding of each other's methods of operations, which will enhance global peacekeeping efforts. "The lessons learned at Khaan Quest 2006 will be taken back to participating nations and will be carried forward into execution of UN peace support operations around the world," Tom said. "These UN missions provide security and hope for people in troubled areas of the world in need of protection and are of vital importance in maintaining civility on the planet." ------------------------------------------------------------ By Kalei Brooks, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs Contributing writer, Spc. April L. Dustin, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs