Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces in ceremonial uniforms are reminders of Mongolia's past history as Eurasia's greatest military power and empire.

Since 1989, the people of Mongolia have successfully established a freely elected government and a free market economy. They have downsized the Mongolian military and integrated it into a democratic system where the military is politically neutral. The U.S. Pacific Command has developed an extensive program that supports the positive changes taking place in the Mongolian military.

International Military Education and Training Program
The U.S. Pacific Command is assisting Mongolia with an extensive International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, which deploys U.S. military mobile training teams to Mongolia and brings Mongolian military personnel to the U.S. for professional military courses. Mongolia is now the beneficiary of the third largest IMET program conducted with an Asia-Pacific armed force.

Members of 084 Paratroop Unit in Mongolia receive training on U.S. tracking procedures from U.S. Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Norton. (Background artillery piece is a historical display).

To participate in U.S. training, seminars, and conferences, Mongolians must speak English. IMET-funded English language training teams in Mongolia are the key to overcoming the Mongolian military's continuing dependence on the Russian language. When qualified in English, Mongolian officers may attend such IMET courses and seminars as:

• Military law training by the U.S. Defense Institute for International Legal Studies, which includes training in Mongolia and observer training in the United States.
• Civil-Military Relations seminars conducted by the Center for Civil-Military Relations.
• The Defense Resource Management Institute seminar, which Mongolians have attended in the U.S. for several years.
• The Command and General Staff College, which Mongolian officers have been attending since 1994.
• Officer basic courses; one Mongolian officer is attending the Signal Officer Basic Course in 1999.

Other training in Mongolia has included International Health Resources Management in 1997 and Legal Considerations for Military and Peacekeeping Operations in 1998. Future training support includes additional basic courses in the U.S., as well as peacekeeping operations training in Mongolia.

Jr. Sgt. Ch. Sukhbat in the classroom of the Elite Battalion, in Ulaanbaatar.

Staff Assistance Visits
The U.S. Pacific Command staff has conducted four staff assistance visits to Mongolia to develop areas where the U.S. can assist the Mongolian Armed Forces. During these visits, Mongolian and U.S. military representatives have discussed communications, humanitarian assistance, equipment preservation issues, and opportunities for further military-to-military events in Mongolia.

During one visit, for example, U.S. staff visitors learned that border troops do not possess the communications resources necessary to effectively respond to incidents along the border in Dornod and Uvs Aimag. During the May 1999 visit, representatives from the U.S. Pacific Command discussed Mongolia's environmental concerns about abandoned Soviet military bases.

U.S. officials (civilian clothes) visit the Elite Battalion, designated for U.S. peacekeeping training. L to R: Lt. Col. Daniel Perron, Mr. Greg Flick, Lt. Col. Naraanbaatar, Col. Sanduijav, Lt. Col. Brandon Denecke (author), Mr. Gordon Ishikawa, Maj. Nick Berryman, and Maj. Greg Smith.

Joint/Combined Exchange Training Program
Special Operations Command, Pacific, a subordinate unified command of U.S. Pacific Command, has sponsored Joint/Combined Exchange Training (JCET) events in Mongolia since 1996.

JCETs expose regional armed forces to highly trained U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel who are skilled at training other nations' forces in a wide variety of basic military skills, as well as civic assistance and medical skills useful for the well-being of their citizens. The U.S. participants also learn skills and tactics that may be unique to a particular country's environment and armed forces. The JCET program now involves more than half of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

A Mongolian border post headquarters visited by U.S. Pacific Command officers during a staff assistance visit.

JCET events conducted in Mongolia are named BALANCE MAGIC. The first JCET event in 1996 focused on training in humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations, as did the 1997 event, which added medical training. BALANCE MAGIC 98-1 involved medical cross training, and additional training in pathfinder and aerial delivery operations. BALANCE MAGIC 99-1, conducted in February 1999, included medical cross training and the conduct of a bilateral Medical Civic Action Project (MEDCAP). It also included training in search and rescue, survival, and aerial resupply (see sidebar article).

U.S. officers visited communications sites to determine how the U.S. might assist Mongolia.

Other Growing Military-to-Military Contacts
Mongolia participated in its first formal government to government bilateral discussions with the United States on regional security issues in March 1999 during a meeting that included representatives from U.S. Pacific Command. These talks were held in conjunction with the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mongolia recently expressed interest in developing a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) with U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) in the area of peacekeeping. USARPAC is considering this request and has planned a peacekeeping SMEE for Spring of the year 2000. Also, possible engagement between the Mongolian Air Force and U.S. Pacific Air Forces will be explored in talks next year.

Mongolian officers host the Americans at the 016 Infantry Brigade area at Dzuunmod. L to R: Col. Nyamjav, Col. Myagmarsuren, and Lt. Col. Naraanbaatar.

Another indication of progress is the establishment of a full-time U.S. Defense Attaché Office, which replaces rotating U.S. Military Representatives. The first in-country Defense Attaché, U.S. Army Maj. John Baker, assumed his post in August 1999.

Peacekeeping Operations are an important area for future cooperation with the U.S. The President of Mongolia and General Commander of the Armed Forces, N. Bagabandi, in a 19 April 1999 meeting with Defense Minister Sh. Tuvdendorj, directed that the Mongolian Armed Forces begin preparations for involvement in peacekeeping operations. Mongolia has identified its "Elite Battalion" for peacekeeping operations training.

Mongolia has been invited to participate in a multinational peacekeeping training exercise in Nepal, which is being planned and executed in coordination with U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Pacific Command. Also, possible Mongolian participation in the U.S.'s Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities program in 2000 is being explored.

The U.S. Pacific Command program of assistance to the Mongolian military helps to promote a professional, apolitical armed force capable of supporting Mongolia's national sovereignty and of cooperating with U.S. Armed Forces as participants in international peacekeeping operations. The U.S. will continue to build bonds of mutual respect and friendship with the Mongolian armed forces in programs consistent with the desires and goals of the government of Mongolia.