Asia Pacific Defense Forum Winter 2000-01

Mongolia's Snow Leopards
Ready for Peacekeeping Activites
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Mongolian Snow Leopards train for peacekeeping

They call themselves
"Snow Leopards"
because, in winter,
Mongolia is completely covered by snow and temperatures sometimes reach below minus 40 degrees Centigrade (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit). The name symbolizes that, even under such extreme conditions, the unit can act as efficiently as, and with the endurance of, a real snow leopard.

At the meeting for senior officers held 2 to 6 October 2000, the Chief of the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Ts. Dashzeveg, gave directions concerning the establishment of peacekeeping training in every unit, increasing the number of units with the capability to conduct and participate in UN peacekeeping operations.

Compared with other militaries, there was almost no major difference in our military equipment and battle dress uniforms. The major concern of our military specialists and experts is that we need to obtain modern night optics and other optical equipment, and we need to improve communications equipment of our forces.

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