I guess the Cold War really is over:
CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan — Marines currently with the Exercise Khaan Quest ‘04 detachment conducted combat skills training May 3-7 in the Central Training Area in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Mongolia.
According to Staff Sgt. Douglas J. Rodenberger, platoon sergeant, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, the Marines will be teaching the Mongolians the skills, tactics and weapons systems Marines employ on the battlefield.
In an effort to be fully prepared, the Marines participated in a refresher course on heavy, medium and light machine guns, the M16A2 service rifle and the M9 service pistol.
Along with weapons systems, the Marines will instruct the Mongolians on counter mobility, convoy operations and security, bunker and barrier plans. The Mongolians are deploying to Iraq shortly after the bilateral training exercise. This will improve the interoperability between U.S. Marines and the Mongolians in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, explained Rodenberger.
“During Exercise Khaan Quest ‘04 these Marines will be training the Mongolians and vice versa. The training we’re doing here is giving the Marines the tools they need for success,” said Rodenberger. “It allows them to improve their skills and will eventually enhance the training for the Mongolians.”
Read the rest on your own. For what it’s worth, the wife found the idea of “Marines” and a completely landlocked nation rather curious, kind of like when she saw “Mongolian Seafood” offered on the menu of some restaurant at the COEX. And while we’re here, let me re-link to that November 2003 piece in the Guardian piece on Mongolian troops in Iraq. Oh, and this little piece on U.S. military training in Mongolia has got some real cool photos.
UPDATE: In the comments section, Tony points out another example of the The Horde’s ever increasing international presence.
6 Comments
That story is duplicate of one on the Marine Corps web site, which has additional pictures: http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink.....endocument
Also, you might note that Mongolia recently participated in the Cobra Gold exercise in Thailand, along with the US, the Phillipines, and Singapore: http://nationmultimedia.com/pa.....;usrsess=1
And, may I chime in by mentioning that all this international involvement is pillar two of the US strategy for protecting Mongolia from Russia and China.
There was an interesting article in the March 2004 Atlantic, entitled “The Man Who Would Be Khan”, about an American military liasion in Mongolia.
I highly recommend the Atlantic Monthly article. It was an excellent and inspirational read. The Mongolian people seem to be smart, good hearted — and idealistic too. The American military advisors there are doing an exemplary job. If you need a reminder that we can do things right overseas, read this article.
Tell your good wife that the Americans want to stay on the good side of the country that produced Genghis Khan. And also that when the next Genghis arises out of the steppes, the Americans plan on making you their envoy to his court.
Keep a straight face and don’t smile, and maybe you can get her going for awhile, depending on how good her English is…
I can’t be the only one here in Korea who has thought
“Mongolian wife? Wow. That has catchet. That’s just damn cool.” Sulk…. brief consideration of a move to Nepal.
PING:
TITLE: More Marines in Mongolia
BLOG NAME: The Argus
The Marmot links to a few stories on US military training programs for Mongolian troops. If you missed it in February, go back and check out my post on the guy who wrote the book on the US military relationship